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Philosophy 101
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meaning
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meaning |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan 
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. “meaning inner importance: psychological or moral sense, purpose, or significance” I recently read Ernest Becker’s The Birth and Death of Meaning, which frankly being in the end preachy in a 60-70’s find yourself sort of way was not as good as his Denial of Death, but both seemed to have essentially the same theme being that the meaning of life like faiths in an afterlife were fantasies deliberately self delusional at some but important level as an alternative to the insanity that would come if honestly facing reality. And yet this I question. The body, ( the cells themselves), even given a clinically dead brain, will struggle to live on so without word it states at least what the initial if not ultimate value is. If in nature there is this measure isn’t there then meaning? If using being alive as the benchmark, can a man then choose to die, the absolute negation, without it being no more than the consequence of folly? . |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
May you ask the question in simpler terms for this simpleton?  By the way, it is good to see you back in the forums, Huan. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. Becker was basically agreeing with the existentialists in saying human meaning is fiction. It’s akin to the notion that all human value is relative, (having no basis in anything that is not disposable). This would argue against Kant who thought there were universals by which to determine and measure both. How we feel about the sadist or saint is a function of conditioning and it doesn’t derive from reasoned or intuitive understanding of any absolute. This brings to mind, (though not in a way I can quote), moments in the old “ The Time Machine” and more recent “The Thin Red Line” movies where a character speaks about a “spark” in each human; Becker and Sartre would smile or scoff but never agree. PS, Thanks . |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. “COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Saying that he was a "deceiver and liar" who had given in to his dark side, the Rev. Ted Haggard confessed to sexual immorality Sunday in a letter read from the pulpit of the megachurch he founded” Thirty million, (out of six billion), followed, and yet is there something untouched by this? It there some spiritual reality that can only sadly shake its head and smile? . |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
How about taking it from this angle: what isn't a meaning? |
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Stephanos
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618Statesboro, GA, USA |
quote: Could you elaborate on this question? Stephen. |
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