We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one
dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative.
We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and
future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We
are made up of layers, cells, constellations.
(Anais Nin)
What is meaning?
'Meaning' is the significance we ascribe to phenomena.
It does not exist in its own right.
We create meaning through our
interpretation of
reality.
The
way in which we
see things determines
meaning.
Our
beliefs, values, education,
culture and
intelligence all contribute to meaning.
This makes meaning
ambiguous and
relative.
Two people could encounter the same phenomenon and attribute it with an
entirely different meaning to one another.
Intention
What is intended by somebody is subject to
interpretation.
Motives can only be imagined, they cannot be known - people
lie, they mislead, they withhold...
Even the clearest statement with the most unequivocal use of
language
is subject to misunderstanding because it is based upon assumptions.
Wars happen over meaning.
Significance
What is something attempting to import?
What is its reason for being?
What is it trying to communicate?
People have speculated on the meaning of life for millennia; but the
question is an inherent contradiction.
Any
answer can only exist
within the context and framework of life, and therefore be partial.
The question is fundamentally flawed because it assumes a common definition
of 'meaning' when meaning itself is beyond definition.
What do you mean by 'meaning'?
Context
Our
upbringing,
cultural
values and education are instrumental
in building our way of thinking.
Whilst the configuration of each individuals
value system may be considered unique,
the component parts are not; for they have arisen from a common cultural
experience: the past.
All
context assumes a past experience.
Whether you are
political,
religious,
competitive or
anarchic, all of those perceptions are a consequence of the past.
They are a response to something that has already happened.
Interpretation
The meaning of something is interpreted relative to what we already
know.
We attribute significance to phenomena based upon the past.
Knowledge comes from the past; it is the foundation of our perceptual
experience.
Effect
Events affect us in different ways.
The effect of phenomena is relative to the individual.
Consider:
Your friend swears at you and you grin in return.
A stranger swears at you and you feel
upset.
Although the two events are not
identical, the message communicated is superficially the same - abuse is
being expressed.
We may accept abuse from a friend believing it to be in good
humour,
whilst a stranger is different because the context is unknown.
The messages are changed by our interpretation of the event and this
determines the effect.
More...
Page created 4 June 1999