Western Philosophies
Platonism
Attain the highest form of knowledge
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Aristoteliansim
The goal of what you do defines what it means to be good
Cynicism
Live virtuously and self-sufficiently with nature
Hedonism
Pleasure is the most important human pursuit. It is the only good.
Epicureanism
Live temperately, enjoying modest pleasures of knowledge, friendship, and freedom from fear
Stoicism
Avoid suffering through objective, clear judgment
Classic Liberalism
Meaning exists in social contracts and individual liberties like labor and property
Kantianism
Actions should be motivated by a devotion to duty. Morality is measured in intentions, not consequences.
Utilitarianism
Actions should be performed with consideration of creating the greatest good
Nihilism
Do anything, because life has no objective meaning
Pragmatism
The meaning of life is discoverable only through experience and is created by the individual
Theism
Fulfilling God's will as part of His divine plan gives life meaning
Existentialism
The world has no intrinsic meaning but it can be individually constructed through awareness, free will, and personal responsibility
Absurdism
The universe is irrational and meaningless; the search for order only brings the individual in conflict with the universe
Humanism
Human flourishing is the purpose of human life
Logical Positivism
The things in life have meaning as parts of a whole, but the discrete meaning of life, itself, cannot be discerned
Natural Pantheism
Look after nature and the environment