New to Theory Mapping?

Theory Mapping is a new and potentially revolutionary method to improve the quality of theories that society uses. It does this by improving the generation, communication, critique, refinement and selection of theories. It is particularly applicable to areas of inquiry which are not amenable to controlled experiment, where it provides a systematic approach to using empirical evidence and logic in the evaluation of theories.

It consists of drafting Argument Maps for each theory (in which ideas and arguments are represented by boxes connected by arrows) and then measuring how coherently they can explain agreed facts.

Whatbeliefs.com is the home of Theory Mapping. For more information the best place to start is the FAQs, which link to all the various posts on the site.
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Monday 29 December 2008

What is the Meaning of Life?

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In order to find an answer to the Meaning of Life, you first need to know what you are looking for!

After some research into the subject, my suggested definition of the Meaning of Life is the following:

"A single, objective, cosmic, complete and consistent account of the relevant and realisable connections between human lives and what has intrinsic value"

To explain the meaning of the key terms in this definition:
  • Intrinsic value: the quality that something has which means that we ought to appreciate and promote it, purely on the basis of what it is.
  • Human lives: human lives in general – the features of human life.
  • Relevant connections: a link to the essential features of human life.
  • Realisable connections: a link that can be realised by humans.
  • Account: a description of what has intrinsic value and how it is connected to human life.
  • Single: one account.
  • Objective: what has intrinsic value exists independent of human minds.
  • Cosmic: what has intrinsic value exists beyond human lives.
  • Complete: every aspect of human life is connected to.
  • Consistent: the account is logically consistent.

To understand more about this definition (and for some great quotes about the Meaning of Life!), please see the document attached here.

The key point however, is that in order to give your life more meaning and purpose, you need to connect to things with intrinsic value. See the posts about Value for help on how to do this.

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