1. © Paul T. P. Wong

4. What makes life worth living?  The happiness hypothesis  The virtue-ethic hypothesis  The positive-engagement hypothesis  The need satisfaction hypothesis  The human potential hypothesis  The PERMA hypothesis  The meaning hypothesis

5. Nihilism: The human condition renders life meaningless:  We can never achieve all our dreams.  We become dissatisfied and bored even when we obtain everything we seek.  There is no God, no soul, no afterlife.  There is no divinely ordered universe, no ultimate purpose.  There is no external grounding for morality - - everything is permissible.

7. Life is meaningless without God

8. Solomon’s God Solution

9.  God created us for a reason  God has a plan and purpose for each one of us  God provides a coherent account of the meaning of life  God is the sole source of morality  God gives us hope beyond death  There is ultimate justice and purpose  We are bearers of God's image  Life has value and significance by virtue of being related to God  God satisfies our deepest longings

10. Paul Wong's sources of meaning (1998)  Positive affect -- Feeling satisfied with life  Achievement -- Striving and attaining worthy life goals  Relationship -- Relating well to others and community  Intimacy -- Having family and close friends  Acceptance -- Being at peace with oneself  Religion -- Have a personal relationship with God  Self-transcendence -- Losing oneself in serving others  Fairness/justice -- Being treated fairly

11. Characteristics of a meaningful life 1. Pursues a choice-worthy purpose or end 2. Exhibits some positive value, virtue, or praise-worthy goods 3. Renders life coherent and intelligible 4. Transcends one's animal instincts and self-interests 5. Makes a significant contribution to the world 6. Enhances the well-being of others 7. Possesses intrinsic value or worth 8. Fulfills God's purpose and plan in one's life 9. Exercises one's freedom of choice 10. Enjoys certain experiences and activities 11. Satisfies one's deepest needs and desires

15. Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy

22. Involves:  Life direction  Calling & mission  Worthy purpose & end  Priorities  Core values  A sense of significance  Reasons for living

23.  Understand self and others  Understand the demand of the situation  Know right from wrong.  Understand one’s role in life  Achieve a sense of coherence  Can justify one’s own action

24.  Freedom of choice  Self-determination  Internal control & self efficacy  Assume responsibility of our own life & action  Civic duties  A moral agent.

25.  An appreciative attitude  The natural outcome of leading a purposeful and responsible life  A sense of well-being & serenity in all circumstances  Feel good for doing good  This stage involves reflection and sometimes re-evaluation of PURE.