The Purpose of "Purpose"

and why we might not need one after all

Do We Need a Purpose?

Everywhere you go, it seems, people think we need purpose. In business and leadership literature, in wellbeing and spirituality movements, and in philosophy and religion, the idea of purpose is everywhere.

The idea seems to be that human beings have this innate drive to understand their purpose, and that without a sense of purpose many different bad things can happen. We might make bad decisions, lose our sense of significance, and perhaps even damage our mental health.

I’m sceptical about the value of purpose. We might, it turns out, be better off without one. Here are some reasons why.

Tyranny

The search for a purpose in life can itself become a burden. You might feel that unless you have identified your purpose, you are somehow behind the play. That without a catchy summary of your life’s purpose to help you prioritise your decisions, you have somehow failed in your personal journey.

My favourite philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, is a fellow sceptic about the value…