Life, Work, and Purpose: Interrelations and Implications for Meaning-Making Processes

Abstract

Human action is intentional and guided by purposes or goals. These purposes, in the plural, indicate that human action is sectoral, organized according to distinct human activities across various areas. Each of these activities has its own specific purposes. Thus, human actions within the area of family life are distinct from those in the area of work, as they aim at different ends. However, these same actions can also be viewed as part of a totality, an integrated whole. In this case, purpose, taken in the singular, functions as a totalizing and organizing sign. This article seeks to capture this dual nature of purpose by discussing the purpose of work and its relationship with other areas of human activity and action. As a theoretical contribution, it proposes a distinction between purpose in and purpose of life, and between purpose in and purpose of work, developed through a semantic analysis. It then situates this discussion within the broader literature on the topic and further explores it through the lens of the historical-cultural approach. It is possible to say that this perspective supports a more integrative understanding of the phenomenon, particularly by emphasizing the intrinsic relationship between purposes and the meaning-making process. The article concludes by highlighting areas of tension and alignment between purposes and life areas, and by outlining implications for research and intervention.