What Eminent People Have Said About The Meaning Of Life

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results from a study of consumer decision making in California's individual health insurance market. We conclude that price subsidies will have only modest effects on participation and that efforts to reduce nonprice barriers might be just as effective. We also find that there is substantial pooling in the individual market and that it increases over time because people who become sick can continue coverage without new underwriting. Finally, we show that people prefer more-generous benefits and that it is difficult to induce people in poor health to enroll in high-deductible health plans. [Health Affairs 25 (2006): w226-w234 (published online 2 May 2006; 10.1377/ hlthaff.25.w226)] W 2 2 6 2 M a y 2 0 0 6H e a l t h T r a c k i n g

Meaning in Psychologists' Personal and Professional Lives

“…In general, psychologists sampled viewed the meaning of life as having something to do with loving, helping, or showing compassion toward others; growing, learning, or developing as an individual or species; making a difference; experiencing and enjoying life; or simply creating one's own meaning. These themes are generally consistent with those Kinnier et al (2003) identified in their study of eminent people. These findings differ, however, with regard to the frequencies identified for each theme in the Kinnier et al study.…”

“…Participants were asked to rate their level of agreement with several categories of meaning using a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Cosmic meaning categories were based on the categorization system used by Kinnier et al (2003). Terrestrial meaning categories were based on the categorization systems used by Battista and Almond (1973), Debats (1999), DeVogler and Ebersole (1980Ebersole ( , 1983, Ebersole (1998), andO'Connor andChamberlain (1996).…”

Deliverance From the “Dark Night of the Soul”

“…Kinnier, Kernes, Tribbensee, and Van Puymbroeck (2003) collected quotes about the meaning of life from eminent or famous people. Emergent themes were strikingly similar to the themes found in the present study.…”

Causality and explanation in political analysis

“…"When any object increases or diminishes with the increase or diminution of its cause, 'tis to be regarded as a compounded effect, derived from the union of the several different effects, which arise from the several different parts of the cause." (8). An "object, which exists for any time in its full perfection without any effect, is not the sole cause of that effect, but requires to be assisted by some other principle, which may forward its influence and operation."…”

“…However, compatibilist argue that determinism is compatible with, or even necessary for, free will. Existentialists argue that while no intrinsic meaning has been designed in a deterministic universe, we each can provide a meaning for ourselves (8).…”