A few “Meaning” threads (see here, and here) have been on my mind for quite some time, and @NickolaosPappas’s was the most recent. Finally, I ran across a book review at work for What do we Mean, When We Talk About Meaning, which focuses on the need to define the question we keep talking about.
When we really focus on answering the question and seeing how other’s approach it, as we are seeing here, the question is interpreted variously. “Meaning” indicates a number of concepts: “given purpose,” “ultimate significance,” “productivity,” “value,” “importance,” “meaningfulness,” “essense,” “reason to go on living.” Most of these concepts can be seen as ultimate/eternal/universal or as temporal/mortal, as we are. As ultimates, they assume things outside of us or beyond our control: an assigned value, a given purpose, a designated significance, etc. But most of these concepts can also be understood as features or elements of mortal human life without reference to ultimates. Often our desire for universal “meaning” seems to overshadow our ability to appreciate the temporal/mortal.
Additionally, focusing on various “meaning” concepts as ultimates implies our ability to effect permanent change in an eternal universe as if we were gods. I wonder, if by focusing so much on what we can imagine rather than what we can do or be, we aren’t stacking the deck of meaning against ourselves.
Of course I’m biased by my faith that there is a God who loves us and cares for us and sees us as significant. I can comfortably ignore the ultimates, assuming those are covered. However, I don’t think having ultimates solved in this or any other way is all that important – at least today as I write.
Looking for different terms for the question, I’m considering something like: What is my sense of place or belonging in the world? It’s a smaller, more human-sized question that still allows for me and others to have significance in the world we inhabit. It recognizes my limitations as a living being and focuses on a realistic grasp of my existence.
In viewing life through the question of my sense of place in the world, I see that sense comprised of many threads of experience, that include things like: relationships, values, contribution, dependence, abilities/disabilities, and more. I think a web or fabric comprised of these threads of experience is an apt metaphor.
I’m looking forward to more interactions on this topic. It’s been great to think about this together so far. I have so many posts to catch up on reading now! It’s wonderful.
And finally, some of the fruits of The-Change-Induced-ADD:
