“Bring Words back from their Metaphysical to their Everyday Use” – Meaning in Life through Ordinary Language Use 1

Abstract

The search for meaning in life is one of the fundamental existential challenges. This chapter embarks on a conceptual investigation inspired by Wittgenstein to clarify the concept of “meaning in life,” the processes involved in its realization, and its relevance to (post)modern life. It discusses the two revolutions sparked by Wittgenstein in the study of language, which provide a foundation for the proposed method of qualitative-empirical inquiry that seeks to clarify “meaning in life.” In so doing, it will draw a straight methodological line between Wittgenstein's early work and his later work. The chapter ends by exemplifying this methodological tool through an analysis of three semi-structured in-depth interviews with Hebrew-speaking octogenarian Israelis. The analysis provides a glimpse into the contemporary understanding of this concept through ordinary language use.