Skip to main content

Life: Meaning of

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the main ways that the category of meaning in life, as a value distinct from well-being and morality, has been prominent in recent bioethical literature on topics of interest to a global audience.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Danaher, J. (2014). Hyperagency and the good life – Does extreme enhancement threaten meaning? Neuroethics, 7, 227–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David, M., & Kirkhope, J. (2005). Cloning/stem cells and the meaning of life. Current Sociology, 53, 367–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, U. (2009). Human suffering as a challenge for the meaning of life. Existenz, 4, 36–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gems, D. (2003). Is more life always better? The new biology of aging and the meaning of life. Hastings Center Report, 33, 31–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Häyry, M. (2011). Considerable life extension and three views on the meaning of life. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 20, 21–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kass, L. (2002). The meaning of life – In the laboratory. The Public Interest, 146(Winter), 38–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, M. (1999). Assisted suicide, suffering and the meaning of a life. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 20, 287–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metz, T. (2016). The meaning of life and the afterlife. In B. Matheson & Y. Nagasawa (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook on the afterlife, Chapter 16. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M. (1989). Mortal immortals. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 50, 303–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orr, R., & Genesen, L. (1997). Requests for “inappropriate” treatment based on religious beliefs. Journal of Medical Ethics, 23, 143–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pijnenburg, M., & Leget, C. (2007). Who wants to live forever? Three arguments against extending the human lifespan. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33, 585–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • President’s Council on Bioethics. (2003). Beyond therapy: Biotechnology and the pursuit of happiness. Washington, DC: The President’s Council on Bioethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quintin, J. (2013). Organ transplantation and meaning of life. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 16, 565–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, D. (1981). Constitutional privacy, the right to die and the meaning of life. William and Mary Law Review, 22, 327–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, A. (2014). Transhumanism and the meaning of life. In C. Mercer & T. Trothen (Eds.), Religion and transhumanism: The unknown future of human enhancement (pp. 3–22). Westport: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheffler, S. (2013). Death and the afterlife. In N. Kolodny (Ed.), Death and the afterlife (pp. 15–110). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Trisel, B. A. (2004). Human extinction and the value of our efforts. The Philosophical Forum, 35, 371–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varelius, J. (2013). Ending life, morality, and meaning. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 16, 559–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Further Readings

  • Benatar, D. (Ed.). (2004). Life, death & meaning. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hick, J., & Routledge, C. (Eds.). (2013). The experience of meaning in life: Classical perspectives, emerging themes, and controversies. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seachris, J. (Ed.). (2012). Exploring the meaning of life: An anthology and guide. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thaddeus Metz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this entry

Cite this entry

Metz, T. (2015). Life: Meaning of. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_267-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_267-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-05544-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

Publish with us

Policies and ethics