The Synthesis of Practical Goals and Universal Meaning
From the studied materials, it is evident that the issue is not a simple choice between the abstract, profound meaning of existence and setting concrete objectives in everyday life – both approaches prove to be complementary. On the one hand, to address pressing, individual problems, it is necessary to formulate questions in the most specific form possible, taking into account all personal characteristics and conditions. As stated in one of the texts:"And according to this model, all similar questions should be formulated. It is easier to find an answer, and the answer will be more precise if a question about the means of achieving health, material prosperity, success in love, etc. is posed in a completely specific form that takes into account all of the private, individual properties of the one asking, as well as the surrounding environment, and, most importantly, if the goal of one’s striving is not something vaguely general like health or wealth in general, but something very specific – such as curing a particular illness, earning a living in a specific profession, etc. These are the kinds of questions – 'What should I do in this particular case to achieve this specific goal' – that we, in fact, ask ourselves on a daily basis..." (source: link txt)On the other hand, there exists a perspective according to which the meaning of life emerges against the backdrop of an all-encompassing sense of being, where an individual human life appears as a reflection of a higher cosmic purpose. This approach is highlighted in another excerpt:"For then the meaning of our personal life comes into focus against the backdrop of a general meaning. And here we face an alternative. Either the entire Universe as a whole, the entirety that we might call 'everything', has the meaning of its existence, or 'everything' is meaningless. If there is meaning in everything, then it must be an eternal, supreme meaning, which perhaps we cannot even fully comprehend at this moment..." (source: link txt)Thus, my position is that it is necessary to simultaneously pursue specific goals that allow us to address practical and individual issues, while maintaining openness to a deeper, all-encompassing meaning of existence that goes beyond a purely utilitarian approach. It is in the synthesis of both directions – practicality and the search for deeper meaning – that the fullness of life is found.Supporting citation(s):"And according to this model, all similar questions should be formulated. It is easier to find an answer, and the answer will be more precise if a question about the means of achieving health, material prosperity, success in love, etc. is posed in a completely specific form that takes into account all of the private, individual properties of the one asking, as well as the surrounding environment, and, most importantly, if the goal of one’s striving is not something vaguely general like health or wealth in general, but something very specific – such as curing a particular illness, earning a living in a specific profession, etc..."(source: link txt)"And then the meaning of our personal life comes into focus against the backdrop of a general meaning. And here we face an alternative. Either the entire Universe as a whole, the entirety that we might call 'everything', has the meaning of its existence, or 'everything' is meaningless. If there is meaning in everything, then it must be an eternal, supreme meaning..."(source: link txt)