Mindfulness Meditation and the Meaning of Life
Mindfulness July 11, 2024 Oren Hanner 5 citations
A philosophical analysis argues that mindfulness meditation directly contributes to a meaningful life, not merely as a mediating factor. Drawing on Susan Wolf's account of meaningfulness, which requires both subjective attraction and objective value, the article proposes that mindfulness meditation is non-subjectively valuable because it is necessary for exploring objective meaning and engaging with objectively valuable projects. This addresses a worry in Wolf's theory about how to secure objective standards for meaningful activities. The argument suggests that mindfulness, as understood in Buddhism, provides a foundation for meaning that is independent of individual subjective preferences.