Reading Questions: Leo Tolstoy, “My Confession;” Richard Taylor, “The Meaning of Life” Tolstoy

1. At a certain point in his life, certain questions began to perplex Tolstoy. What are these questions?
2. These questions perplexed him even when he “was on every side surrounded by what is considered to be complete happiness.” What examples does Tolstoy give of the aspects of his life that are considered to be complete happiness?
3. In the end, what does Tolstoy think provides the answer to the meaning of life?
Taylor
1. Describe the myth of Sisyphus. Why is this the perfect image of meaninglessness, according to Taylor? How do the activities in our lives resemble the activities of Sisyphus?
2. In the section called “The Meaninglessness of Life,” Taylor defines meaninglessness as “endless pointlessness.” What does he mean by this?
3. In the section called “The Meaning of Life,” Taylor identifies something that makes a person’s life meaningful (at least from their perspective). What is this?

1. watch the video, 2. write a 150-word summary of the video,
answer the reading questions uploaded.
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