more from Thomas Nagel

Single Idea 3263

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / f. Altruism]

Full Idea

If no one's life has any meaning in itself, how can it acquire meaning through devotion to the meaningless lives of others?

Gist of Idea

If our own life lacks meaning, devotion to others won't give it meaning

Source

Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], XI.2)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'The View from Nowhere' [OUP 1989], p.217


A Reaction

This is one of the paradoxes of compassion. The other is that the virtue requires other people to be in need of help, which can't be a desirable situation.