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Diogenes
Diogenes believed in living life differently from societal norms. He believed that there was no difference between life and death and that a person should only live a life alone and in a simple manner to gain a sense of inner peace and happiness. He advocated the idea of asceticism. -
Jan 1, 604
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu believed that everyone should live a life in a natural way by being good, serene, and respectful to others. He believed that simplicity was the best way to live so that others follow your way and everyone lives a life with love and unity. His philosophy was called Taoism. -
Sep 30, 1207
Rumi
Rumi believed that the meaning of life resided within. A person was to love themselves and live a life of dignity and truth to reach God. He believed that with true music, art, and poetry, a person was able to connect with God and find internal peace. This belief was called mysticism. -
Jan 1, 1265
Dante
Dante believed that life was dependent on the soul’s influence on the heart. If someone’s heart strayed from the path or was broken, there would be no more life. He believed in a rather negative, erratic, and eerie philosophy of life. -
Oct 20, 1469
Guru Nanak Dev
Guru Nanak believed that everyone should live in the quest for knowledge to promote a life of peace, equality, and positive action. He believed that God is within every human, but we have to live our lives to search for him. By meditating, this process would become much easier. -
Jan 1, 1571
Mulla Sadra
Mulla Sadra believed in the philosophy that life is a journey and that we should live in search of the truth. Following this spiritual journey in life could ultimately help us return to God. He also believed in the “primacy of being” which meant that there was only one reality and everyone lived in the same one on Earth. -
John Locke
John Locke believed that all people had these basic rights: the right to life, to own property, and to revolt against unjust governments. He believed that real happiness in life was found in liberty and learning. Locke was also famous for coining the term “pursuit of happiness”. -
Voltaire
Voltaire believed that self- discovery was the meaning of life. He believed that by loosing one’s innocence, one was able to achieve the true meaning of life by becoming enlightened and a matured individual. -
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant believed that reason determined the condition under which experience and knowledge were possible. He believed that it was reason alone that was the source of morality. His philosophy was much influenced by Copernicus. -
Charles Darwin
Darwin believed that everyone should live by the philosophy to help them survive natural selection. He believed that the only way to do this was to participate in activities that would be beneficial to everyone. The main focus of his philosophy was to adapt to the environment. -
Soren Kierkegaard
Soren Kierkegaard believed that a person passed through three stages on the way to understanding the full meaning of life: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. He believed that everyone should live life by each moment, maintain a positive and helpful mindset for others, and believe in God to help them through their difficulties. -
Karl Marx
Karl Marx believed that all human beings are sociable and naturally productive. Therefore, living their lives through the free exercise of their natural powers gave their life meaning. According to him, just expressing one’s self is the purpose of life through virtuous means. He believes that in order to fulfill the meaning of life, a person should be financially stable because the economic structure determines all aspects of our lives. -
Descartes
Descartes believed that learning is the sole purpose of living. He believed in conscious experience and matter and did a lot of research on how mediation could help one fulfill the meaning of life. He strived to bring out his philosophy through his works in science. -
Socrates
Socrates believed that the purpose of life was to grow in a personal and spiritual manner. By reflecting on our experiences, we can make sure to learn from our mistakes so that our life is not full of repeated mistakes. His famous quote says it all: “The unexamined life is not worth living”. -
Zeno
Zeno believed that the goal of life is to live at one with nature and to live with virtue. He believed that everything happens for a reason because God plans everything beforehand. Subsequently, he believed that everyone should be involved in society so they can fulfill their duty on Earth and lives in unison with others. This philosopgy was called Stoicism.
