Psychological and philosophical research has consistently demonstrated that an individual’s subjective moods and emotions profoundly influence their perception of life’s significance. Philosopher Matthew Ratcliffe noted that an individual’s mood significantly influences perception and is crucial in shaping their understanding of life’s meaning.

Empirical studies in psychology have examined the influence of mood on the perception of life’s purpose. Phenomenology has demonstrated that the embodied, first-person experience significantly shapes our perception of the world. In related disciplines, the notions of affordance, solicitation, and enaction (enactivism) have been sequentially introduced. These notions emphasise how human physical interactions with the environment shape and inform human perception and comprehension of their surroundings.

In a recent study, Professor Masahiro Morioka of the Faculty of Human Sciences at Waseda University sought to apply the mechanism not only to the perception of the outward environment but also to the perception of “meaning in life.” The findings of this study were disseminated online in Philosophia on June 4, 2025.

This study is a conceptual and theoretical examination of the essence of “meaning in life.” In the discourse on the meaning of life, researchers have frequently contended whether life’s significance is entirely subjective, meaning it exists only if the individual perceives it as such; entirely objective, indicating it exists independently of individual belief; or a synthesis of both perspectives. This study, however, disregards those arguments and instead investigates the development of “meaning in life” between an individual striving to live their actual life and the life they aspire to lead—and how that meaning is seen by the individual.

The paper presents a “Geographic Model of Meaning in Life,” which is an active exploration model. This concept posits that an individual’s exploration of life’s meaning, characterised by particular attitudes and convictions, provokes diverse responses from life itself. These responses may manifest as actual or potential experiences of life’s significance or suffering. The value of life manifests—both positively and negatively—as a multifaceted spatial arrangement that shapes human experience. This study posits that “meaning in life” should be comprehended as a geographical arrangement that aligns with an individual’s exploratory actions and their outlook on life.

The noteworthy definition as per Morioka is, “The geographic model of meaning in life is the whole set of patterns of combinations of lived experiences of the worthfulness of living a life that are experienced being activated by my action of probing into my life in the here and now, and this action is similar to the action of a blind person probing her way with a cane. This probing can be carried out with various attitudes or commitments towards life, such as positive, negative, reluctant, and so on. The worthfulness of my life is experienced differently corresponding to the attitudes or commitments I take when I probe into my life.”

This work signifies a paradigm change by considering both significant and tragic experiences as components of the same experiential landscape, examining “meaning in life” as a perceptual experience within that intricate topography. The integration of phenomenological technique into the philosophy of life’s meaning facilitated a transition that may connect philosophy and psychology, so fostering enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration.

Psychology has established both quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess individuals’ perceptions of life’s meaning. The current methodologies differ significantly; however, the “geographical model” introduced in this study examines the concept of life’s meaning from an entirely distinct perspective. It may provide novel insights for psychology and associated disciplines.

With eyes set on the future, Morioka remarks, “My next goal is to integrate this study with other ongoing approaches in the philosophy of life’s meaning: namely, the solipsistic approach to meaning in life and the liberation and recollection approach. Through such integration, I aim to build a new, systematic framework within the philosophy of life’s meaning.”

Original Publication
Authors: Masahiro Morioka.
Journal: Philosophia
DOI: 10.1007/s11406-025-00854-5
Method of Research: Meta-analysis
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: A Phenomenological Approach to the Philosophy of Meaning in Life
Article Publication Date: 4-Jun-2025
COI Statement: The authors declare no competing interests.

Original Source: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/85369