Finding Meaning in an Imperfect World

Some people worry their life is meaningless, and this perceived lack of purpose can be rationally debilitating, leading to the belief that nothing matters. In this work, Landau (philosophy, Haifa Univ., Israel; Is Philosophy Androcentric?) asserts that we should reject such bleak conclusions, arguing that we can find meaning within ourselves. Landau's text means to undermine arguments that readers might find persuasive about the meaningless of life and give them instead a philosophical foundation to discover contentment through critical reflection. This work is written at an introductory level and does not fully explore the issues of meaning or value. Rather, it is intended as triage ethics—an urgent and passionate attempt to convince readers that their lives matter. There is much to like about Landau's discussion, including interesting assessments of relativism, the problem of free will, and moral value. However, this book begins in a somewhat self-indulgent manner, the chapters are far too brief, and the conclusion too swift. This reviewer hopes to see a revised version that begins with a greater focus on metaethical and metalinguistic questions concerning meaning and its relationship to value.