What do you think of using the word “interpretation” instead of “meaning” in this context? The question “what is your interpretation of life” might still be difficult, but I prefer the way it points attention inwards
I think that's exactly the right way to think about it. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that meaning is an act of interpretation. When we figure out what something means, interpretation is the tool we use. What makes this concept difficult is that it's very different from empiricism, which is how scientists are used to thinking. Experiments can't tell you anything about meaning (except empirical trends in how people tend to report on meaningfulness). Only interpretation can!
More on this soon — as I'm planning for it to be the basis for my third installment of this "Meaning is..." mini-series.
I could not argue successfully against any of your discussion. However when I dig down to the very bottom of 'meaning' I find it to be meaningless. And that is most satisfying. One may define words and attach labels and debate the meaning of those words and labels, but eventually one may throw most of them onto the scrap heap of irrelevance and simply allow life to unfold, following the path of least resistance.
This lesson comes from my mother who taught me by example to accept the gifts of life as they appear and enjoy the comfort of acceptance and harmony with all that is...
This is one of the reasons why I don't think it's useful to worry too much about the 'definition' of meaning! There's very little to be gained by looking at some of these things from an atom-by-atom level.
Loved this essay!
Thanks!
What do you think of using the word “interpretation” instead of “meaning” in this context? The question “what is your interpretation of life” might still be difficult, but I prefer the way it points attention inwards
I think that's exactly the right way to think about it. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that meaning is an act of interpretation. When we figure out what something means, interpretation is the tool we use. What makes this concept difficult is that it's very different from empiricism, which is how scientists are used to thinking. Experiments can't tell you anything about meaning (except empirical trends in how people tend to report on meaningfulness). Only interpretation can!
More on this soon — as I'm planning for it to be the basis for my third installment of this "Meaning is..." mini-series.
curious about the dialogue between different contexts producing meaning.
Yes, I think some of the general themes of how meaning works start to come out when you look at different cases side by side.
I could not argue successfully against any of your discussion. However when I dig down to the very bottom of 'meaning' I find it to be meaningless. And that is most satisfying. One may define words and attach labels and debate the meaning of those words and labels, but eventually one may throw most of them onto the scrap heap of irrelevance and simply allow life to unfold, following the path of least resistance.
This lesson comes from my mother who taught me by example to accept the gifts of life as they appear and enjoy the comfort of acceptance and harmony with all that is...
This is one of the reasons why I don't think it's useful to worry too much about the 'definition' of meaning! There's very little to be gained by looking at some of these things from an atom-by-atom level.