Constructing Life Philosophies | Introduction
A book like this is published to meet many needs. However, three goals were dominant in the creation of this work: (1) to satisfy the reader’s curiosity about philosophy, religion, and morals; (2) to assist the reader who is developing his or her personal conclusions about the meaning of life and about the goals which he or she will strive toward; (3) to assist the reader in better understanding the values, religious ideas, and personal goals of other people.
Curiosity is a wonderful part of being a human. It is the force which makes us instinctive explorers. Just as peoples such as the Greeks and the Vikings explored their physical world, we explore our personal world by studying history, psychology, biology, political science, and physics. Just as Europeans were curious about finding an ocean route to India and China at the time of Columbus, we are explorers of ideas when we go to the library for books, learn a new computer program, or surf the internet. This book will hopefully assist you as you explore the disciplines of philosophy, religion, and ethics. It is in these disciplines that people have asked the most searching questions about life’s meaning and the values which should guide them.
There is a second reason to read this book; we occasionally have times when we ask ourselves: What do I really believe? What do I want to do in my life? What religious and moral principles should guide me? These questions are quite common in all cultures, in all historical periods. When we ask such questions, we are seeking a way to unify our lives around a philosophical principle, a religious belief, or a moral absolute. This book will give you a few of the ways these seminal questions have been answered by others. Though this book cannot fully explain the many religious and philosophical points of view available, it does serve as a catalyst for further study and reflection.
Whether or not we are building our personal philosophy of life, we need to consider the third reason to read this collection of viewpoints. We need to understand other people. This book is an excellent tool for gaining a greater aware- ness of the beliefs held by others. All of us need a general understanding of the goals, religious beliefs, moral priorities, and philosophical views held by others. Only then can we understand our neighbors—whether they are distant peoples or the person next door.
As we survey the history of humanity, we find that the enthusiasm with which people have explored their physical world is comparable to their zeal for journeying into the world of ideas. Humans have continually asked about the meaning of life and sought the best ways to live socially and privately. As social beings, humans are continually brought in contact with others who hold differing systems of beliefs. Hopefully, this book will spark your curiosity, helping you better understand not only yourself but others as well.
