Christian Philosophy and the Meaning of Life

In this paper I discuss some responses and answers to the question "What is the meaning of life?" I begin by briefly reviewing the responses of scientists such as Stephen Hawking, psychoanalysts such as Sigmund Freud, and analytic philosophers such as A. J. Ayer. I then look at answers provided by existentialists (e.g., J-P Sartre and A. Camus) and by "idealists" such as Bernard Bosanquet and note that neither approach reflects an adequate account of human nature. Finally, I look at three Christian philosophers-Thomas Aquinas, Soren Kierkegaard, and Jacques Maritain-and find, in each, elements of a philosophical answer to the question. By drawing on these elements, I conclude that Christian philosophy can provide a useful answer to the questions of whether and how human life is meaningful.