The recent pandemic of coronavirus has caused shocks in the outer and inner environment of people. Many fellow human beings died helpless and alone, while at the same time, many more are expecting, realistically, to lose their jobs, starve and be miserable. Insecurity has gripped all economic and administrative organizations in the world that are trying to analyze people's behavior in the current crisis and similar crises of the past. They think that in this way, they will take the appropriate measures to be able to face a new reality. According to the law of effect, the leaders failed to anticipate and deal with this pandemic even mentally. It is reasonable to question the effectiveness and adoption of new measures since the concept of man and the importance of existence have not changed substantially. The great philosopher Plato accuses us, claiming that the punishment we receive when we do not agree to engage in politics is that we end up being ruled by our subordinates. The sense of danger of societies, governors, and individuals is recycled and feedback systematically. Ultimately in people's souls, there is fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger, while in the mentally vulnerable, phobias, panic attacks, depression, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder worsen.
In trapped and socially isolated people, due to circumstances, the small existential worries become sharp arrows that pierce his(her) mind and ask torturous questions. Where was I wrong so far in my life? What should I do from now on? What is it worth in this life? The meaning in life is not the constant search for happiness but the great purpose and moral stature, Socrates stressed. The purpose of life for Aristotle is the bliss that can achieved through virtuous deeds. What is worthwhile is not to live to get more, but to live well, Plato holds. Epicurus (Free of fear= ataraxia) philosophy urges us in the way of life full of self-sufficiency and austerity. The greatest gain of self-sufficiency is freedom. Aiming to relieve man of death anxiety, it says that as fear clears away, life becomes very sweet.
There is essential proof confirming that meaning in life is associated with well-being and positive functioning. People who believe that their lives have sense are happier. Religiousness links to well-being. Religion generates a sense of purpose and significance. It connects to personal development, self-realization, and self-southing. Above all, religion associates self-coherence in these difficult times where every human value shuttered, and there is only one kingdom that still reigns over that of self-preservation. Religiosity conveys positive emotions that are necessary for emotional survival. Those who believe in it strengthens their endurance and increases their life satisfaction.
Social psychologists, founders of Terror Management Theory, declare that human meaning originates from a fundamental fear of death, and life values are selected when they allow us to avoid the reminder of mortality. It is impossible to escape death anxiety by choosing actions that make you forget. Non-acceptance also shows mental immaturity. Maybe your life needs to be in tune with the idea of the inevitable. Sociology tells us that a purpose-driven life is always teamwork. A meaningful life is affected by historical trends, group relations, norms of personal values, cultural paces, and power dynamics, respectively. Sociology does not try to enlighten you but considers that the more you participate and the more options you have, the more likely you are to find the solution that suits you. These choices include faith in religions and policies, self-efficacy, nihilism, and folk hedonism. A purposeful life must remain a collective project.
Neuroscience, based in terms of neurotransmitters, explains reward, pleasure, and motivation. If one believes that the meaning of life is to maximize satisfaction and to ease general life, then this imposes regulating predictions about how to achieve this. Freud produced the idea that the mind seeks pleasure and avoids pain to satisfy biological and psychological needs shaping the pleasure principle. He also considered that to solve the problems and motivations of life, one does not need moral assessments but knowledge. Epicurus, Freud, and neuroscience define the Motivational Hedonism, which believes that desires to meet pleasure and to avoid pain guide all of our behavior. Hedonistic egoism and Utilitarianism are distorted versions of motivational hedonism, and they bring guilt, immorality, lack of empathy, and loneliness.
Schopenhauer, the cornerstone of pessimism and existential nihilism, believes that life has no intrinsic meaning or value. However, he decided that only resignation from the useless striving of the desire through a form of asceticism could free oneself from it. When searching for the meaning of life, emerge conflicting and personalized perceptions. Kierkegaard argues that the meaning of life is to obey God with passion while for Nietzche is the will to power. Camus believed that life is absurd and meaningless. The best way to deal with this fact is to live with passion, using everything, a rebellion attitude, resistance, and defiance. Sartre espoused the view that life is meaningless and our free choice gives meaning and responsibility.
By following our fears, anxieties, desires, actions, and motivations, existential worries emerge that guide everything. There is existential anxiety in all that we experience all these days of social isolation. The ultimate concerns of our existence are freedom, death, isolation, meaninglessness of life, according to I. Yalom. Freedom contains free will and individual responsibility for choices and actions. People should accept self-determination and not avoid liability and not act compulsively. The concept of freedom is internal construction. The interpersonal isolation comes from fearful, selfish, and judgmental attitudes. The intrapersonal and existential isolation, are triggered by the fear of death and create loneliness. The feeling of solitude is alleviated whenever meaningful relationships and love frame our connection with others. Awareness of the idea that death is the inevitable end for everyone gives meaning to life that it is not worth acting like you are immortal. Meaningfulness of life is not prefabricated but constructed on a personal basis. It needs to build with noble-minded aspirations, values, and lofty goals. Everyone's life must stay self-decided and authentic and not accidental.
The problem is how all those great people have proclaimed can be accomplished in a petty, harsh reality so that we can feel better and give to the meaning of life the importance it deserves. Here are some ideas from some people who, motivated by solidarity, contributed to the acquisition of modern well-being: A) Connection with others. The feeling that you belong to a group, and in general that there is proximity with others improves physical health and psychological well-being. A critical life skill is the ability to establish and maintain healthy friendships because strong friendships mean robust health. B) Lifelong learning improves our perception of the world around us, provides us with more opportunities, and promotes our quality of life. It makes us more adaptive, flexible under challenging situations and broaden our insight. C) Giving to others emotional, spiritual, physical, and material support help them in a time of need. Generosity and solidarity promote cooperation and social connection. On a personal basis, it makes us happier, and it reduces our stress and mortality. In this context, we have a moral responsibility to resist leaders who are selfish, manipulative, and impulsive. Only then will we protect our vulnerable fellow human beings. D) Physical activity defeats anxiety -depression-phobia and enhances the ability to cope with stress. Exercising Improves self-esteem and satisfaction and results in better body image. Working out through endurance and strength creates increased feelings of energy. Cardio-respiratory fitness is a shield to any sort of infection. E) Mindfulness of life springs from the demand for the gratification of essential needs instead for the indulgence of insignificant desires. F) Personal happiness precedes success, and achievement. You need more to seek happiness than to ask for goods, glory, and recognition.
And again, the contemporary life meaning remains the life with great purpose and moral stature of Socrates.
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