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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: January 7, 2013

Life seems pretty meaningful.

Austin John Jeffery¹, Todd K Shackelford¹

¹Oakland University.

The American Psychologist

|September 9, 2015

Summary

This commentary discusses the perception of life

Area of Science:

Psychology
Philosophy of Meaning

Background:

The article "Life is pretty meaningful" by Heintzelman and King posits that life holds significant meaning.
This perspective contrasts with common perceptions and is explored as a fruitful research area.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the arguments presented by Heintzelman and King regarding the meaningfulness of life.
To address concerns about the potential misrepresentation of philosophical concepts in the original article.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of the philosophical debate on meaning.
Critique of the distinction between perceived meaning and intrinsic existence.

Main Results:

The authors express concern that Heintzelman and King may have oversimplified or exploited the philosophical discourse on meaning.

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A key recommendation is to clearly differentiate between the subjective perception of meaning and its objective, intrinsic existence.

Conclusions:

The distinction between perceived and intrinsic meaning is crucial for clarity in this research area.
Failing to make this distinction may lead to overstating the implications of findings on perceived meaning, particularly for those seeking evidence of inherent life meaning.