8

MEANING

Philosophers have been contemplating the purpose of human existence and the meaning of life probably since before the dawn of recorded history. The topic is not new; its importance is profound and its implications touch the core of personal motivation. The following discussion reconsiders the subject from what may be a more tangible perspective. It begins with an examination of the concept of 'meaning' and its relativity. We then place this into the context of the individual person's life and his most basic desires. From there we move to the realities of day to day living and the problem of finding the right vocation where the importance of honesty is highlighted. Finally, the subject of ultimate meaning and the paradox of freedom are considered.

The Concept of Meaning

Nothing has 'meaning' in isolation. Whether it is an event, an object, an experience, a feeling or a human life, its meaning can only be found in its relevance. The further its relevance extends, the more meaningful it can be. Some examples may clarify this: A 'symptom' in itself is superficial. Its meaning lies at a deeper level where it may indicate an underlying medical condition. The significance of an earthquake lies in its broader relevance to what may be destructively affected, and in its implications for future human behaviour.

Meaning is relative. There is no such thing as unqualified relevance, only relevance to something for someone. From an employer's point of view, the meaning or purpose of our presence lies in the contribution we can make to his objectives. To a low income earner, the meaning of a fall in the price of necessities lies in its relevance to his survival. A rise in interest rates will have one meaning to a person repaying a housing loan and another to the speculator on the stock-market.

These principles apply equally to a person's daily life. To have meaning, it needs to be relevant to the future he desires; benefit other people or things that he cares about beyond his immediate self, and do more for him than produce superficial sensations. A sense of meaning in our lives is clearly important to our happiness. But paradoxically, it is the relevance of our activities to our own and other peoples' extended happiness that makes them meaningful!

Feelings, Motives and Practical Realities

In daily life, we tend to be less analytical and simply pursue our values. However, as we begin to seek a greater depth of happiness, the quest for meaning may start to emerge as a conscious desire to feel that we are doing something 'worthwhile' that brings a sense of internal satisfaction. Often it is associated with 'being needed' or 'contributing' something that is regarded as good and reinforces our feeling of self worth and self respect. Some obtain this from seeing their children mature; others undertake adventurous activities to challenge their self-reliance; many professional people seek the admiration of their peers and those with business ambitions have their own visions of what it means to be respected. While the objective is rarely of global significance, it always has at least a little more in it than their own immediate narrow superficial prosperity.

So what specifically should a person be doing to make his life meaningful and feel that it is worthwhile? It becomes a question of 'work', not as in 'earning an income' but in terms of 'making some contribution' to someone's greater happiness somewhere, even if only indirectly. A number of people are fortunate in developing an awareness of their mission at an early age, while for others the process may involve further learning and taking an interest beyond their existing boundaries of awareness.

The Importance of Self-knowledge and Realism

It is vital to get to know ourselves and our natural abilities, and this requires us to venture far enough to begin to appreciate our potential and our limits. Identifying our work has little to do with adopting a lofty heroic image of ourselves, for such thinking often ends in frustration, disillusionment and ruined health. The viable avenues open to us depend on several factors including our natural abilities and our learning. These can be expanded, but at any given time they have their practical boundaries. Although countless biographies have been written showing what can be accomplished despite severe handicaps, everything must still be done within the limits of the available time, energy and resources. The difference must always be kept in mind. The right work will be nourishing in that we enjoy doing it. It will not be boring or debilitating and we look forward to more of it. At times it can be tiring, beset with problems and border on the impossible, but these do not diminish our conviction in the value of what we are pursuing. To be meaningful, our work must above all be effective in making progress towards something that is valued. That cannot happen unless there is a connection between idealism and realism. It is not a case of one or the other. We must combine both.

Honesty

Meaning and motivation are also intimately connected. People working in certain fields may prefer to see themselves as operating from higher and nobler motives. However, often they are 'brought down to earth' when something reveals the more mundane rewards on which they unconsciously depend to sustain their enthusiasm, and their illusion of 'selflessness' disintegrates with considerable trauma. People who seek 'higher values' in the religious or humanitarian sense are perhaps more prone to this, particularly when they are not honest with themselves and have an inadequate understanding of human nature and attainable ideals. People who appear to be looking for deeper meaning with 'pure and selfless' motives must accept that they are in fact never out of the picture, nor is it possible for them to be.

Whatever our religious convictions, there is considerable practical wisdom in the ancient Scriptures which command us to 'love our neighbours as ourselves' . This represents the purest attainable motive to which we can aspire and anything 'even more noble' becomes self defeating. A person can assess how deep or shallow his crucial values are, by asking himself whether he would continue to do the activity if there were no material rewards and no-one else knew who was doing it, but even if the answer is a truthful 'yes', at the deepest level he is still the recipient of some personal benefit that sustains his drive. It is vital to accept this reality, for it does not diminish meaning but is essential to it!

Ultimate Meaning

There is a saying that it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive, and perhaps this applies most strongly to the subject of meaning. Sooner or later, most of our activities reach a point where they have fulfilled their purpose. The children have grown up; the business is profitable; the mountain has been climbed; the book has been published, and we may find ourselves searching once more. We drink, but we get thirsty again. We look for something permanently nourishing that will never leave us in a vacuum.

The ultimate meaning of existence is one of the deepest philosophical issues that makes sense only at the most fundamental level in a universal and eternal context. Regarding the meaning of the universe, one must necessarily ask, 'to whom?' If we do not believe that some sensitive 'person' will continue to exist, then arguably the very essence of meaning is impossible. The same questions arise in relation to the meaning of our own existence. No human being has a proven answer, and the explanation becomes entirely a matter of faith. It is therefore appropriate to touch on the relationship between meaning and religion.

Every major religion offers an explanation of existence and human destiny, and generally pursues the common objective of seeking happiness. They differ only in the basic realities they assume and the methods they emphasise. The Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions attribute the origin and purpose of the universe to God and teach that ultimate human happiness is to be found only with 'Him'. They challenge believers to make it their primary mission to become the kinds of people God wants them to be, and help others do the same. Together with Buddhism and Hinduism, they seek to promote what is conducive to growth, harmony and good experiences by defining essential virtues and issuing strong warnings. For those who have religious inclinations, the following perspective may be useful, however, this view of meaning depends on belief in a personal God and the promise of eternal life, and such convictions cannot be forced on anyone.

It could be suggested that the reason why we were made is to learn to work with one another and our Maker to explore the possibilities of the universe, and enjoy the process of doing so. This is consistent with our ongoing curiosity and instinct for happiness. In this, we are part of the 'means' and also part of the 'end'. As well as their personal relevance, the basic elements of happiness, namely development, unity and good experiences have an external dimension that is social and universal. As much as they are essential to our own happiness, they are no less vital for every other person and equally important to the Creator of the universe. This extended individual consciousness is necessary if the whole is to work in harmony, and appears to be why humanity was given the greatest two commandments, to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Within their reasonable interpretation we have extensive freedom, and exploration was intended to be an exciting process of learning and creativity, with each step further expanding the opportunities.

Freedom

The search for meaning is unfortunately confounded by two inescapable realities. The first is the fact that we must live and operate largely in the darkness of our own ignorance. Individually and collectively we do not know enough about the universe of 'existence and possibility' to give us any tangible direction or clear future. The second is the paradox of freedom. If ultimate meaning lies in the future, as it must, and we want it made clear and tangible, then what control can we have over it? We cannot have a full measure of both freedom and externally defined meaning at the same time. We cannot hold on to our freedom without the responsibility for the creation of meaning falling back on us. The best we can do is to give up a little of the first for some help in the second.

We create meaning by making a commitment . We exercise our freedom to bind ourselves to some chosen objective. We confront our ignorance, accept the risks and participate in making the future. How do we know that our efforts will not be ultimately futile? We don't. We may seek assurances and guidance, and in the process, trade off a little more of our freedom in the hope of achieving a comfortable balance. This is essentially what most religions do to varying degrees. Personal preferences can range from the one extreme of rejecting all external guidance, to a belief system that offers a dogmatic explanation for everything and usually involves some rigid prescription in every detail of life. The choice depends to some extent on how much freedom and responsibility the individual feels he or she can handle.

Conclusion

Meaning, like beauty, lies mostly in the eyes of the beholder. It is we who must see it or believe in it. In so far as it connects us with a 'future' towards which we want to make a contribution, we must also take some responsibility to create that meaning through making commitments. In other words, if we cherish the freedom to have a say in our destiny then it is up to us to determine our aspirations and make our work relevant accordingly.

If the quest for meaning is to be more than idle contemplation it has to be transformed into action . Some have no difficulty in finding the 'right thing to do', while for others it may take the whole of their lives. The fact that a person seeks it honestly and does his best to live by the highest moral standards he knows, ensures that his life has meaning as long as he believes that there is a place for him in the future and he appreciates the importance of doing his part towards becoming in character what his conscience directs him to be.

The meaning in our own lives is influenced by what we personally believe in, hope for and are sensitive to. It is these that help motivate us and give us the sense of purpose that we have. It also depends on our faith and confidence, for there is much that happens which we do not understand at the time. We should never leap to the conclusion that something is meaningless just because we cannot comprehend it. Frequently this applies to suffering and anything that one may regard as unwelcome. The young child who must undergo medical treatment and the soldier who endures abominable conditions in the trenches usually cannot see the deeper, broader and longer-term picture. Like them, we may often have to place our trust in someone who we assume knows more than us.

While meaning can be contagious as many have found in the company of inspiring people, it is not directly transferable from one person to another. Each must find or create his own.

In the final analysis it comes down to this: If we don't believe in anything and care about little except our immediate selves then meaninglessness is inevitable, for the meaning in our lives is only ever as big as we choose to be . It will always be limited by what we take an interest in, how much we are prepared to be a friend and how far our love extends.

"Perspectives"
©Carl Jacob

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