Religions, governments and societies like to tell us that we must have meaning and purpose to our lives. Actually, if we stop to think about it, almost every person and group with an agenda which they want to impose upon us tell us that we must have meaning and purpose to enjoy life. They, of course, are quick to provide the definition for that meaning and purpose. To have a meaningful religious life is defined by doing what the religion tells you to do and believing what it tells you to believe. Is that the definition of meaning and purpose? Forgive my skepticism.
The word 'purpose' isn't too difficult to define. Merriam-Webster defines purpose as "something set up as an object or end to be attained: intention." (i) I don't think this requires any in-depth analysis, do you? Another way to say that we have purpose to our lives is to say that we have goals. Any argument?
'Meaning' is a whole other problem. All of the definitions I looked at had as its primary definition or one of multiple definitions the use of the past-tense of mean as the definition. I was always taught that in logic, debate, lecture or anywhere else one might be required to define a term, you never use the term being defined in the definition. Merriam-Webster's #3 definition is "significant quality. especially: implication of a hidden or special significance." However, their example was "a glance full of meaning." I switched to the word 'meaningful'. That was just as bad. Merriam-Webster said "1.a. having a meaning and purpose; b. full of meaning: SIGNIFICANT. 2 having an assigned function in a language system."
Do you know what you mean when you say "it adds meaning to my life"? Tell me. I don't understand. Now, if we want to read between the proverbial lines, we could look at the Merriam-Webster definition of 'meaningful' and drop the use of the root word "mean". We could then say that meaningful means having a purpose. Significant. Would this work? It would basically say that to have meaning in our lives means that we have purpose.
While I'm having a great time playing with definition and stirring things up so much that the probability of a working definition is about zero, I know most readers are already tired of the exercise. So let's move on.
This all started with the observation that religion, government (politics/nationalism/patriotism), and
societies (social systems) all tell us that we need purpose to our lives and that purpose, of course, is defined by them. That such institutions are so blatant about controlling our lives doesn't surprise me at all. What does surprise me is that we are, in great number, so willing to accept their definitions and controls.
Why should anyone but you define and/or determine purpose in your life? I must admit to being somewhat skeptical about the entire concept of us needing some sort of purpose to experience a fulfilling life. What is more intense than just living life? What is more successful or more satisfying than living life as you want? The only real meaning in life is what you give it. The only purpose is to be yourself and live life to the fullest.
This doesn't mean that you must be a selfish reprebate. We have more than we need of those. I find it amazing that, as arrogant and selfish as we are as a species, many individuals find altruism very rewarding and it is that which gives them meaning and fulfillment. (ii) If you are naturally a self-centered dred, the world already has to deal with that. But if you're a good person being told by every social system out there what you are to do to experience a fulfilling life, you need to do what you experience and discover for yourself. It might be just sitting and watching. That's okay too.
FOOTNOTES:
(ii) this is an idea which needs some exploring. Why is this so? See note "Individual vs Species."
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