The Void of Meaningful Activity after Completion
Fumitake Yoshizawa
Journal of Philosophy of Life Vol.15, No.1 (January 2025):41-56
Abstract
This paper explores the absence of meaningful activity, a topic not commonly addressed, as most of the philosophical literature on meaning in life focuses on meaningful and meaningless activities. I demonstrate the significant role of this absence, which is particularly evident after the completion of activities one previously engaged in with the expectation that they would be meaningful. A void of activity then emerges. By examining situations in the work of John Stuart Mill and Leo Tolstoy, I illustrate how such an absence helps us to understand the characteristic kind of negative feelings that these two figures report about meaning in life. I thus clarify how we should understand, evaluate and feel about situations involving the absence of meaningful activity. I also suggest that emphasising this absence leads to a broader view of life’s meaning.
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