Dear Professor X, What is the meaning of life?

onemonkey · Oct 9, 2003

Last week I sent this letter to 646 philosophers in the UK..

Dear Professor X,

As a professional philosopher, I expect that you are often plagued by cranks and lunatics. I am no exception.

I have it in my head that you might know the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Therefore, I am writing to ask if you could explain it all to me? Do not be too flattered, I am asking every philosopher in the country!

If God were required to explain Himself, I am sure She could do so in a few eloquent paragraphs on one crisply typeset foolscap sheet, though as an atheist, I have not tried asking Her. You are welcome to go further but I would prefer something more like Meditations than either Either/Or or Being & Nothingness.

For the sake of brevity and convenience, please feel free to merely refer* me to a paper you have written elsewhere or perhaps something classic by a dead Greek or German.

One final very mundane point; I am not some highbrow Henry Root and, in any case, the laws of copyright are on your side. But, who knows, if philosophers turn out to be a particularly witty bunch or if you and your peers disagree strongly then I may collect the responses I receive and attempt to publish them.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Caspar Addyman
caspar@onemonkey.org

*As you know, any letter from a lunatic ought to at least include one split infinitive!
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The replies are starting to come in.. you can see them here:
http://phil.onemonkey.org

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Dear Professor X, What is the meaning of life?

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Dear Professor X, What is the meaning of life?

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