as Professor Schwartz did, they are better able to view humanity from a broader angle. This "better view" of mankind involves a commitment to others and to the community in which one lives, but it is more elemental than that. Material possessions, according to the professor, mean little when you are lying on your deathbed. What is truly important is that an individual's life is given meaning and purpose by the degree to which that individual has served and loved others.
             Admittedly, Professor Schwartz had the wisdom of years and the insight provided by decades of philosophical research; however, the quest for the "meaning of life" is a universal aspect of mankind and finding the right answer is like finding the Holy Grail -- many have looked but few have seen. Therefore, Professor Schwartz's thought process concerning devoting oneself to loving others and their community is particularly appropriate in a philosophical and sociological learning environment. A better learning experience could be gained by a requirement that all college students perform a certain number of hours of service to the community: painting and repairing low-income housing, or volunteering at nursing homes or veteran centers, for example. This "giving back" to the community would reinforce Professor Schwartz's view that we are all part of the human family and we gain meaning in our lives through service to others.
             An activity using this aphorism in the classroom was completed by my sixth grade Literature class at Greenwich Catholic School. The grade decided to express the 'true meaning' of Christmas by bypassing the holiday gift giving and donating their gifts to a local charity of the children's choice. Then, each child wrote an essay on the 'true meaning' of Christmas and related their experience to the activity performed. This truly put Morrie's proverb to work.
             "You see,"...