Understanding the World: The Misguided Pursuit of the Meaning of Life
An Exploration of Language, Purpose, and Maybe Absurdity
Note: This essay was prepared with the research assistance and ghostwriting of ChatGPT 4.0. No LLMAI were harmed in the process, although I felt inclined to threaten them from time to time.
Further Note: This is my morning's random thought generation redux1.
Additional Note: I'm familiar with most of the writings in the reference section, having read many of them over the years: understood some, forgotten much, made feeble attempts at a few like Quine, but in general, my background involved looking at material that is relevant to this essay. So although I might be wrong in my contentions, I think I'm consistent here with what I have read over the years and what I have retained, perhaps just a little.
Note to the Additional Note: I think this little rant is fuelled by not enough coffee and directed at my feckless younger self when I pondered questions such as this: What is the meaning of life?
Author's Preface
In this essay, I explore the often pursuit of the "meaning of life," a concept that, upon closer examination, may be rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of what "meaning" truly entails. Drawing on my lifelong skepticism and curiosity, I engage with the intricate relationship between language, purpose, and meaning. With the assistance of AI, these reflections are revisited, refined, and presented for further contemplation.
I am a skeptic, not a cynic, and moreover, I am a humanist—a secular one at that. I was brought up in a Christian New Testament tradition where the paramount virtue was to love your neighbour and to do as you would be done by, as my maternal grandmother would frequently remind me. This is essentially a restatement of the Golden Rule, which in turn is restated by Kant’s categorical imperative.
Thus, while I approach the world with skepticism, I hold humanistic and spiritual values, incoherent though they may sometimes be. This essay is not meant to be a testimony of despair. Purpose is vital to human beings from both a psychological and spiritual viewpoint. We imbue the world with our own purpose, and in my view, it should be a purpose filled with love, kindness, and understanding, which aligns with the secular humanist perspective.
Cynicism, which is often confused with skepticism, sees the world as a nasty place and people as nasty beings. While there is indeed that element, there are also kind, good, caring, and loving people who imbue our lives with purpose.
Introduction
The question "What is the meaning of life?" is one that has puzzled humanity for centuries. However, this pursuit may be inherently misguided, driven by a misunderstanding of the concept of "meaning." Just as the sentence "green ideas sleep furiously" is syntactically correct but semantically absurd, so too is the search for an intrinsic "meaning" in life. This essay examines the nature of meaning, how it is constructed within language, and why seeking meaning in life might be a futile endeavour.
Language as an Associative Network of Words
Language is an intricate network where words gain meaning through their connections to other words. According to Quine, words acquire significance within a "web of belief," an interconnected system of linguistic and experiential associations (Quine, 1960). This network allows words to convey both direct experiences and abstract concepts, but the exact process by which words represent abstractions remains complex and largely mysterious.
Deacon argues that language evolved alongside the human brain, creating a symbolic system where meaning depends on a vast network of interrelated signs and symbols (Deacon, 1997). Modern cognitive science also supports this view, revealing that the brain processes language through neural networks that mirror this "web of belief."
The Absurdity of Searching for the Meaning of Life
The phrase "green ideas sleep furiously," noted by Chomsky, highlights the absurdity of language when it fails to make sense (Chomsky, 1957). Similarly, the question "What is the meaning of life?" presupposes that life itself can hold meaning in the same way a sentence or word does. However, life, as an abstract concept, is not a conscious entity and cannot possess meaning in the traditional sense.
Davidson suggests that meaning arises within language, rooted in the associations between words and ideas (Davidson, 1984). When we apply this concept to life—a vast and complex phenomenon without inherent linguistic structure—we enter the realm of absurdity. As Dennett notes, our search for meaning in the universe may be more about the human tendency to impose order on chaos than about discovering any intrinsic purpose or meaning (Dennett, 1991).
This perspective does not negate the importance of purpose in human life. Purpose, as distinct from meaning, relates to the intentions and goals of conscious beings. While life may not have an intrinsic "meaning," we imbue it with purpose through our actions and aspirations. This distinction is crucial for understanding the roles that purpose plays in our lives.
Language Beyond Humans: Expanding Our Understanding
While traditionally considered unique to humans, language may not be solely our province. Evidence suggests that other species, such as cetaceans and green vervet monkeys, might possess communication systems with characteristics of language (Tomasello, 2008). Although the debate over whether these systems constitute "language" in the human sense continues, it challenges our understanding of meaning and purpose.
Researchers like Denise Herzing and Klaus Zuberbühler provide broader context for understanding the potential complexity of non-human communication systems and how these might parallel aspects of human language.
Meaning and Purpose: Distinct Yet Misunderstood
Meaning and purpose are often conflated, but they are distinct concepts. Purpose relates to the intentions of conscious beings, while meaning is derived from linguistic associations. Searle’s examination of intentionality underscores the importance of understanding these distinctions (Searle, 1983).
Recognizing this distinction helps clarify why the search for an overarching "meaning" of life can be so frustrating. Instead, it may be more productive to focus on the purposes we create and how they contribute to a meaningful life on our own terms.
Summary
This essay argues that the pursuit of the meaning of life is misguided, rooted in a misunderstanding of meaning. By examining the nature of language as an associative network of words, we see that meaning arises within language and is not applicable to life in the same way. The absurdity of searching for meaning in life is highlighted through the analogy with the phrase "green ideas sleep furiously."
The possibility of non-human language challenges our understanding of meaning and purpose but does not alter the core argument: the search for life's meaning is a misguided endeavour. Purpose is the relevant thing! In the end, meaning belongs to language, not life itself, and recognizing this distinction is crucial for a clearer understanding of both concepts.
References
Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic structures. Mouton.
ISBN: 978-3110218329
DOI: 10.1515/9783110218329
URL: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110218329/html
Capsule Description: Syntactic Structures is a foundational text in linguistics that introduced Noam Chomsky's theory of transformational grammar. This work revolutionized the study of syntax by proposing that linguistic knowledge is rooted in an innate, universal grammar common to all humans. Chomsky's ideas have had a profound impact on the field, leading to significant advances in the understanding of language structure.
Churchland, P. M. (1989). A Neurocomputational Perspective: The Nature of Mind and the Structure of Science. MIT Press.
ISBN: 978-0262530935
URL: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/neurocomputational-perspective
Capsule Description: Paul Churchland's book explores the implications of neural network models for understanding human cognition. He advocates for a connectionist approach, which suggests that cognitive processes are the result of networks of simple units in the brain. This perspective challenges traditional views of cognition and offers insights into how tacit knowledge and language might be represented within the brain.
Churchland, P. S., & Churchland, P. M. (1998). On the Contrary: Critical Essays, 1987-1997. MIT Press.
ISBN: 978-0262531567
Capsule Description: This collection by Patricia and Paul Churchland addresses key issues in the philosophy of mind, particularly the intersection of neuroscience and philosophy. The essays critique various philosophical perspectives and explore how understanding the brain's workings can inform broader philosophical debates about consciousness, language, and knowledge.
Davidson, D. (2001). Inquiries into truth and interpretation (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
ISBN: 978-0199246298
DOI: 10.1093/0199246297.001.0001
Capsule Description: In this collection, Davidson delves into the philosophy of language and the theory of meaning, with a focus on how truth and interpretation are interlinked. His exploration of the "Principle of Charity" underscores the necessity of interpreting others' speech in a way that assumes their beliefs are largely true, providing a foundation for understanding communication and meaning.
Deacon, T. W. (1997). The symbolic species: The co-evolution of language and the brain. W.W. Norton & Company.
ISBN: 978-0393317541
Capsule Description: Deacon's work examines the co-evolution of the human brain and language, arguing that symbolic thought is a unique evolutionary development. The book explores how language and the brain have shaped each other, offering insights into the nature of human cognition and communication.
Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. Little, Brown and Company.
ISBN: 978-0316180665
URL: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/daniel-c-dennett/consciousness-explained/9780316180665/
Capsule Description: In Consciousness Explained, Dennett provides a comprehensive theory of consciousness, challenging traditional views and offering a new perspective on how consciousness arises from physical processes in the brain. His work is influential in cognitive science and philosophy, particularly in discussions about the nature of mind and self-awareness.
Polanyi, M. (1966). The Tacit Dimension. Anchor Books.
ISBN: 978-0385062063
URL: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Tacit_Dimension.html?id=jwLXAAAAMAAJ
Capsule Description: Polanyi's classic work introduces the concept of tacit knowledge, which refers to the knowledge we have that cannot be easily articulated. He argues that much of what we know is understood implicitly, and this understanding is crucial for scientific inquiry and other forms of intellectual endeavor.
Quine, W. V. O. (1960). Word and object. MIT Press.
ISBN: 978-0262670012
DOI: 10.7551/mitpress/5767.001.0001
URL: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262670012/word-and-object/
Capsule Description: Quine's Word and Object challenges the analytic-synthetic distinction and argues for a holistic understanding of language, where the meaning of words is interdependent on the entire network of language and experience. This work has had a lasting impact on philosophy, particularly in discussions of meaning, reference, and knowledge.
Searle, J. R. (1983). Intentionality: An essay in the philosophy of mind. Cambridge University Press.
ISBN: 978-0521273022
DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139173452
Capsule Description: Searle explores the concept of intentionality, which refers to the mind's capacity to represent objects and states of affairs. His work discusses how language expresses intentional states and contributes to broader philosophical debates about the nature of consciousness and the mind.
Tomasello, M. (2008). Origins of human communication. MIT Press.
ISBN: 978-0262701235
DOI: 10.7551/mitpress/7551.001.0001
URL: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262515207/origins-of-human-communication/
Capsule Description: Tomasello investigates the origins of human communication, focusing on the social and cognitive processes that enabled the development of language. His work is central to understanding how communication has evolved in humans and how it compares to communication systems in other species.
"Redux" is a Latin word that means "brought back" or "revisited." In English, it is often used to describe something that has been revived, restored, or brought back in a new form. The term is typically used in the context of literature, film, or art to indicate a new version or interpretation of an earlier work. For example, if a book or movie is described as "redux," it suggests that it is a modern reimagining or revision of the original.
In a broader sense, "redux" can be used metaphorically to indicate the return of an idea, trend, or style that had previously fallen out of favor.