The Purpose Crisis: Finding Meaning in Your Work

In today's fast-paced and competitive workplace, finding meaning and purpose in our work can feel like an impossible task. Despite the rise in wealth, education and career options, many of us feel unfulfilled, unhappy or unsatisfied in our jobs, asking ourselves if there is more to our lives than just a paycheck.

Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, is set in a future where there is no paycheck, no money. It defines the ethos of all the characters in Star Trek. The absence of money that drives behavioural change makes Star Trek so appealing to me. If you don’t have that desire to accumulate wealth, what then motivates the characters in Star Trek? What would your purpose be if there is no money??

In a previous article I addressed intentionalism in art . This article moves on from intentionalism* to intent or meaning through a philosophical lens. Similar to art, in philosophy purpose points to the reason or intention behind an action or event. It can also point to the ultimate objective of a person, thing, or a system.

* Intentionalism refers to the interpretation of a text or an event based on the intended meaning or purpose behind it, whereas intent emphasises to the conscious or deliberate purpose or aim of an individual's actions.

NB: The definitions in this article are broad and many worldly isms such as Nihilism, Negritudism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Sufism are left out, so as to provide a very broad overview of the diversity of Western and Eastern ideologies.

Let’s begin.

The West

For centuries, philosophers have probed into the purpose of life, and whether life is determined or not. Instead of indulging in all of them, I’ll highlight four different schools of thought that focus on meaning in relation to intent or free will.

1. Determinism
2. Compatibilism
3. Libertarianism?
4. Existentialism

Determinism asserts that all events, including our actions, are ultimately decided by causes external to our will. The purpose of life, according to determinists, is about fulfilling our preplanned role or destiny in the universe, which is shaped by the complex network of causes and effects that govern our lives. Some even argue, the ‘hard’ determinists, that the ultimate purpose of life is simply to play out the predetermined script of the universe, without the illusion of personal agency.

Compatibilism regards that determinism and indeterminism are compatible. Even if determinism is true, we can still make choices and have certain control over our actions. According to Compatibilists, our purpose in life is about pursuing our goals and aspirations, developing our character, and living a life that is consistent with our values and beliefs. Compatibilists hold the belief that the exercise of free will is not simply a matter of making choices, but also of taking responsibility for the consequences of those choices.

Libertarianism views that free will exists and that individuals are capable of making choices that are not determined by previous events or causes. Individual choice and responsibility are important beliefs in Libertarianism. Purpose or intent are critically important because it reflects our ability to act on our own accord without being determined by prior causes or conditions.

Existentialism highlights our personal freedom and individual experience in an indifferent universe. The basic tenet of existentialists is that they view our existence as unexplainable and underline freedom of choice and responsibility for our actions. The search for purpose is central to the human experience and Existentialism is mostly concerned with the personal experience of our existence.

The East

Just like the divergence in the western school of thought, philosophers in Asia have many varying viewpoints. Broadly speaking, in Hinduism and Buddhism the concept of dharma refers to our duty or our purpose in life, which is determined by our situation in life and our role in society. According to Hinduism and Buddhism, the purpose of our existence is liberation from the cycle of birth and death through spiritual practices such as meditation and self-discipline.?

According to Confucianism the purpose of life is to cultivate moral character and live in harmony with others. Confucianists ultimate goal is to attain personal and social harmony, or what Confucius called “Dao” which, very broadly, means “The Way” and involves developing virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, and wisdom.

Daoists believe that everything in the universe is interconnected and follows a natural order or Dao. This order is not determined by a divine being or a set of predetermined rules, but rather emerges from the natural flow of energy and forces that exist within the universe. This means that Daoists do not believe in a strict, predetermined fate or destiny for individuals. Daoism emphasises the importance of spontaneity and uninhibitedness, and encourages individuals to let go of their attachment to material possessions and social status, and instead focus on their inner serenity.?

In both Confucianism and Daoism, the purpose of life is to cultivate personal development and contribute to the well-being of society, but they offer different paths and methods for achieving these goals. Confucianism emphasises social responsibility and moral education while Daoism emphasises inner harmony and a deep connection with nature.

Comparative Philosophy

This subset of philosophy looks into sources from across cultural, linguistic, and philosophical domains. Comparative philosophers most frequently engage between modern Western, especially American and Continental European, and Classical Eastern such as Chinese, Indian, or Japanese traditions. Work has been done using materials and approaches from Islamic and African philosophical traditions as well as from classical Western traditions that include Platonism, Judaism, and Christianity.?

In comparative philosophy, purpose relates to our cultural and historical context. Different traditions and cultures may have different ideas about the purpose of life, and these ideas may evolve and change over time. Comparative philosophers believe that the search for purpose is a universal human concern and that exploring different philosophical traditions can help us better understand our own purposes and values.

It is important to note that there is a great deal of diversity within each tradition. Generalising the differences between eastern and western beliefs, or any strand of philosophy, has its limitations. Nevertheless, there are variances in how these two philosophical traditions approach the question of purpose.

In western philosophy, particularly in the ancient Greek tradition, the purpose of life was often seen as the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle believed that the highest purpose of our existence was the attainment of wisdom, and that the good life was one that was devoted to intellectual pursuits and the cultivation of morality.

In contrast, philosophies from India and China, have tended to accentuate spiritual practices and the achievement of inner peace and harmony. In Hinduism and Buddhism, for instance, the purpose of our existence is liberation from the cycle of birth and death, achieved through spiritual practices such as meditation and self-discipline. Similarly, in Confucianism and Taoism, the importance is on fostering moral character, living in harmony with nature, and achieving a sense of inner balance and tranquillity.

Eastern and western philosophy differ as well in the role of the individual versus the collective. Western philosophy tends to focus on developing ourselves and our personal achievement, whereas eastern philosophers often emphasise ambiguous harmony and the importance of relationships and community.

The Final Frontier

What if you find your purpose, what then would you do? Focus on the next purpose, and the next one, and the next one? What if you end up in a self-fulfilling pursuit of purpose? What if, there is no meaning?!

Absurdism and Zen Buddhist traditions do not overly focus on the pursuit of meaning. They contend that life without purpose can be liberating because without a purpose, there’s nothing to fulfil and we can focus on experiencing life itself. Without meaning we can enjoy the present and cultivate awareness and true mindfulness.

There is no meaning to life and to live life there is no need to have a meaning. It is the pertinence of our mind that seeks meaning because psychologically we feel unconnected to life if we don’t have a purpose or meaning. People are constantly trying to create these false purposes - The Mind Trap by Sadhguru

Finding purpose in life does not have to be grand or revolutionary. Small acts of kindness and the pursuit of personal growth can also be meaningful and fulfilling. The Star Trek Enterprise explores new star systems with a crew that is entirely multicultural and neurodiverse. The Star Trek crew direct their attention on knowledge gathering, prestige, respect from their peers while honouring all other customs and races. They seek to do good and do what is right. Justice, courage, temperance, and wisdom appear to be their most profound concerns and what they’re aiming for as good people.

I like to end this article with a quote from Dr Victor Frankl, the author of Man's Search For Meaning: “For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment. To put the question in general terms would be comparable to the question posed to a chess champion: “Tell me, Master, what is the best move in the world?” There simply is no such thing as the best or even a good move apart from a particular situation in a game and the particular personality of one’s opponent. The same holds for human existence.”