2012 – Most Philosophical 6th Grader in America

Joann Song, Illinois.

What is the Meaning of Life?

A question that has made even great philosophers ponder is now being overlooked by people now. This question has been overlooked by many people because they do not thing that this question is as important as making academic achievements. The question, what is the meaning of life, has been asked from the beginning of time and does not have an answer that will satisfy everyone. What would actually be the meaning of life? Life is like a road that unravels as you go on, not revealing itself before it has happened. Many people considers this road as being happy, achieving dreams, or living for others.
Life is defined as enjoyable to many people. Aristotle’s, a Greek philosopher and polymath, greatest influential work was the Nichomachean Ethics. The question that he seeks in his lectures is what is the purpose of human existence. Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” This showed that he thought purpose in life was happiness. In modern days, happiness is just a state of mind when one. However, Aristotle thought life was actually at its peak of happiness when a person’s life is over and you know if you lived up to a human being’s full potential. In a survey on the meaning of life, mainly people said that life was about being happy. This means that you should enjoy life even the things that don’t go your way.
Many would also agree that life is about making dreams and having them come true. Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.” This meant that if you dream about what you want it won’t disappear. Now, if you put your mind to that dream, it can be achieved. Thoreau agreed that life should be about achieving dreams and making new ones. Also, it would be about not giving up on the dreams. In addition, one of my friends said that life was about making dreams. Also, what you do mostly in life is achieve dreams.
Is living for others a burden or happiness? Einstein explained, “Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.” This meant that philanthropy is not a burden. Einstein means that living for others is better because it gives a person a reason to live. He would think about this as life. In addition, this is a goal which people make, but have a hard time completing.
In conclusion, the life is about being happy. For example, life starts and ends without anyone’s intentions, but rolls on where someone is headed. This means that life can be shaped the way you want. Life is like a road that unveils itself as you go on with life, but you should be jubilant even though things don’t go your way.

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