Laura Stevenson
What is the Meaning of This?
To define the term “meaning” is to lend an ear to existence in a way
more essential than to simply assert that x means y.
What is “x means y” actually saying?
We often say the word meaning and understand it in
an abstract way but I wish to explore the term in specific. I would
like to indulge a foray into existence, for without meaning there is no
growth for a sentient being, plant, animal or otherwise, no reason for
existence.
Meaning is relationship. The arrow indicates something, relates
something. Meaning is about how two or more ideas and/or objects
interact. People have relationships. Matter has relationships. The
things we study in school are placed into categories of relationship.
If we use water as an example, it has relationships of many different
sorts. We can study water as it relates to chemistry, physics,
physiology or psychology.
From the perspective of chemistry water relates to particles such as
nuclei and electrons as well as to the elements hydrogen and oxygen.
To say what water means from a chemistry perspective is to say, for
example, that water means two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen which
together form a molecule. This is the chemical significance of water.
The signifier is what is generally taken for granted. In other words,
we all know what water is. It’s taken for granted that water is wet
and clear, although muddy water is dark because mud is dark and water
that is frozen does not become wet until it comes into contact with
something warmer than it is. Such is the case of water.
When one subject or signifier points to a significance we are saying
that the former has a philosophical importance, an abstract weight or
an essence, which is its significance. If I say that college means a
place of higher learning, the reverse is not necessarily accurate.
That statement that a place of higher learning is college is false. A
place of higher learning could be a Buddhist monastery. If a signifies
b, b does not necessarily signify a, at least, not solely a.
A meaning is like an arrow. It points to something. It says “look
over there” or perhaps, “look here.” Without a significance, an
importance, a philosophical or practical weight, a word or a thought or
object has no arrow, no meaning. It is inextricable from purpose. If
we suppose that love (however defined) is the purpose of existence a
corollary is that love is the significance of our lives; there is no
meaningful or significant life without love. To use an object as
example, a hammer’s meaning is its potential as a utilitarian object.
It may mean a picture goes on the wall or a house is built. It bears a
purpose.
To further illustrate, in the study of poetry two ideas and/or objects
which at first seem unrelated can find a common ground. They share
characteristics but are not totally equal. Such is metaphor—or
simile—an idea or object in terms of another, two things which share a
value. In mathematics, an example of absolute value is the value of
-12 compared to that of 12. They are not equal but share common ground
which is credible and real. Each is equidistant from zero on a number
line giving them the same absolute value, albeit different actual
values. Just check your bank balance and you will find that being $100
under in your account is far from having $100 in your account.
Metaphor and simile demonstrate this idea slightly differently, but
that discussion can be postponed for now.
Conclusively, meaning is an experience. It is difficult to define in a
pure sense, as the definition seems to be circular, much the way I
believe time to be circular and space to be expansive. As I stated
above we categorize life into perspectives which illustrate meaning.
The example of water’s meanings is interesting because it is vital to
plant and animal (and other) existence. Meaning is vitality,
necessity. I invite you to explore how the terms I have expressed give
credence to the age old problem of meaning. Let us all consider what
is important to us in life and why; let’s pay attention to experience,
to what it has to say.
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