Eh, I don't like this article. Of course the gulag makes seeking happiness absurd, but it destroys all belief systems. The gulag destroys a faith in human goodness too, or a faith in social justice, or in individual will. It destroys religious faith as easily as faith in political atheism. Using that to say a life based on maximizing happiness has issues really isn't helpful.
And to be honest, no, suffering does not making your life meaningful. That's one of the most absurd things there is. Even Jesus prayed the cup be taken from him, and wept tears of blood. The author confuses having to survive with suffering as giving meaning beyond simple self-interest, but a lot of suffering is just meaningless. the camp cruelties are meaningless, people torment others for pointless reasons.
Finally, I always am wary of "meaningful." A lot of times you can make meaning in dangerous things that harm others. Happiness...well, at least you end up limiting the damage you do to others; the revolutionary who focuses on transcendent causes may have a meaningful life, but birth a system that gives us the gulag.
And to be honest, no, suffering does not making your life meaningful. That's one of the most absurd things there is. Even Jesus prayed the cup be taken from him, and wept tears of blood. The author confuses having to survive with suffering as giving meaning beyond simple self-interest, but a lot of suffering is just meaningless. the camp cruelties are meaningless, people torment others for pointless reasons.
Finally, I always am wary of "meaningful." A lot of times you can make meaning in dangerous things that harm others. Happiness...well, at least you end up limiting the damage you do to others; the revolutionary who focuses on transcendent causes may have a meaningful life, but birth a system that gives us the gulag.