Author Archive | Jonathan Paul

There are many different views on the meaning of life. Hundreds, if not thousands, of credible schools of thought exist, and every individual has an entirely unique opinion about their ultimate purpose. However, are these “meanings” really the meaning of life, or are they simply methods through which to live?  Something may give life meaning, […]

Just because we have become conscious at some point in the past, does it mean that there must be a meaning of life?  Perhaps the nihilists have it right – there is no meaning, only life. This may seem pessimistic, but it is a valid consideration. Maybe it is selfish to think that we have […]

In the beginning, there were people, and they were confused. They existed, they thought, they hunted, they gathered, they made more of themselves. However, why were they there? How were they there? How did the world around them exist? It is commonly stated that religion and faith came from an attempt by our ancestors to […]

“When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in the eternity before and after, the little space which I fill, and even can see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of spaces of which I am ignorant, and which know me not, I am frightened, and am astonished at being here rather than […]

Throughout the millennia, there are countless stories of men and women who have spent their lives searching for the meaning of life. However, is this a worthwhile pursuit or a waste of time? Let us suppose that there is a meaning of life. If it cannot be discovered after hours, days, weeks, months or even […]

Another time [the Buddha] said, “Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to […]

“I mean, yes idealism, yes the dignity of pure research, yes the pursuit of truth in all its forms, but there comes a point I’m afraid where you begin to suspect that if there’s any real truth it’s that the entire multi-dimensional infinity of the Universe is almost certainly being run by a bunch of […]

Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead. – Anonymous Scotsman There are so many ways to express this philosophy: Carpe Diem; Eat, Drink and Be Merry, for Tomorrow We Die; Memento Mori; Be Happy. These endeavors go on record as the most pleasurable search for meaning: hedonism, in which the main […]

Know Thyself. ~ Plato No discussion of the meaning of life is complete without a discussion of perhaps the most influential of all Western philosophers: Plato. Student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy, he has influenced countless generations of free thinkers and under-the-influence philosophy students.  His most famous quote, “Know Thyself,” is […]

Jonathan Paul is the Chancellor and a co-founder of FunEducation, Inc., one of the premier online testing providers of IQ tests, personality tests, career profiles and standardized practice materials. Jonathan started his career in technology as a corporate attorney specializing in advising start-up and emerging growth companies.  He is licensed to practice law in California and Texas and is […]