On the Meaning of Life

'Cottingham summarises arguments about morality, evolution ... with clarity.' - Steven Poole, The Guardian'Students are often disappointed with contemporary philosophy for not engaging with the "big questions". They would not be disappointed with this book...The strength of this book lies in the way it handles a mass of philosophical, scientific, literary and religious thought.' -Church Times'Elegantly written and accessible...Readers will appreciate Cottingham's clarity and his willingness to enter some difficult and complex areas of debate.' - The Philosophers' Magazine'Lucid and provocative, rich with references and ideas . . . Cottingham takes things remarkably far for our day and age.' - International Philosophical Quarterly'I strongly recommend this book to philosophers, theologians and educated readers. It is a distillation of much experience, scholarship and reflection and it is rare to find so much contained in so few pages. Whatever else I read in the coming months this will be one of my books of the year.' - John Haldane, The Tablet'[An] admirable, concise and lucid book.' - Reviews in Religion and Theology'If Cottingham is brusque he can also be invigorating, and he focuses very effectively on the most fertile question in the so-called philosophy of life: that the "precariousness of human life and happiness" is exactly what makes our life interesting.' - Jonathan Ree, Times Literary Supplement

• Preface Chapter 1 The QuestionThe question that won't go awayScience and MeaningSomething rather than nothingA Religious question?Meaning after GodMan the Measure of All things?Variety, MEaning and EvaluationWhat Meaningfulness impliesMeaning and MoralityHumanity and OpenessChapter 2 The Barrier to MeaningThe VoidThe Challenge of ModernityThe Shadow of DarwinScience, Religion and MeaningEvolution and 'Blind' ForcesThe 'Nastiness' of the Evolutionary MechanismMatter and Surplus SufferingThe Character of the CosmosChapter 3 Meaning, Vulnerability and HopeMorality and AchievementFutility and FragilityReligion and the Buoyancy of the GoodVulnerability and FinitudeSpirituality and Inner ChangeDoctrine and PraxisFrom Praxis to FAithCoda: Intimations of Meaning