Toward Meaning

Toward Meaning takes the reader on a quest for creating meaning in life. From a story of recovery to a journey of self-discovery, The book winds through a philosophical exploration while taking in the sights, sounds, and experiences of a hike down a mountain. Motivated by a distaste for purposes ordained by religious dogmas and questionable norms, I sought answers in philosophy. This book describes my journey and insights, leading to the creation of a cohesive approach dubbed Agencism.

Agencism combines atheism and existentialism, topping them up with my ideas about meaning and how to create it, bit by bit. Much like its existentialist foundation, Agencism is optimistic. It asserts that people, not unseen deities, control their own actions and can determine their future. We have the right – indeed, the duty – to give meaning to our lives. Agencism offers practical methods, helping people find reasons to wake up every morning and seize each moment.

About the author

Jay Harel is keenly interested in understanding how things work and why they behave the way they do. He is doing his best to live an examined life and recognize patterns through the noise.