“42”? No, that can't be right, that's just the answer to the “ultimate question” - but we have yet to figure out what that question is. “Nothing very special”? Perhaps closer to the truth – but only if you trust Monty Python to tell you the truth. Perhaps only Homer (Simpson, not the ancient Greek) knows the answer. Joking aside, is there really a common answer for all of us?

Whether you already have your own answer to the “ultimate question” is likely to depend upon your personal belief system. Some people find an answer in religion; others in philosophy (whether academic or personal); still others in science. We are fortunate that modern society provides us with more sources of information; more ways of satisfying our curiosity; and more diverse opinions for our consideration than at any previous time in history. The wealth of collective knowledge is growing continually, so, if there is an answer, it may well be that someone has already found it and is prepared to share it. The dilemma that we each face is whether we try to come to our own conclusions about the meaning of life, or whether we adopt an answer promulgated by someone else.

It seems to be a curious human trait (evidenced by the vast number of websites, books, and discussion forums (and occasional films) devoted to questioning – or positing an answer to – the meaning of life) to expect a simple and easily digestible answer to the “ultimate question”. As tribal, communal and social creatures, we seem to thrive on structure and order: witness how in almost every walk of life we divide ourselves into leaders and followers, and apply rules to govern conduct and belief. It is hardly surprising, then, that many of us find ourselves disoriented and in need of guidance when we are not readily provided with a definitive answer to the most significant question that most of us will ever ask.

If we are prepared to accept an answer to this most profound of questions from another person or a particular teaching, then it should be axiomatic that we do not accept any such answer without thinking critically about its merits and potential validity. Surely the question of the meaning of life, more than almost any other question, is deserving of the full application of our cognitive capacity to determine whether or not we accept someone else's opinion.

In my humble opinion, there is no universal answer applicable to all living creatures – or even just to human beings. However, that does not mean that we should not seek to find a personalised answer applicable to each of us, or suggest (and live by) a set of principles or aspirations to help us get the most from life. If I were compelled to enunciate my own set of principles for living a fulfilling life (which, by virtue of penning this article, I suppose I am), then they could probably be summarised as follows: