Is meaning overrated?

A strict consequentialist analysis tends to find that meaning is “meaningless” or at least arbitrary. Why does one set of value matter more than another - why is worthwhile work more important than pure hedonism? While this viewpoint is logically consistent, it seems in some sense psychologically absurd. This is not how “meaning” works for individuals - you cannot just pick and arbitrary set of values and magically value. Bering Camut’s absurd hero is absurd or at least difficult. In a sense I think questions of meaning are better posed as psychological problems rather than moral problems. Meaning is a psychological construct - perhaps related to others that forms an integral part of motivation and enjoyment.

There is a slight complexity here because meaning “strives” to be “logical” and consistent . The conclusion that I have come to is one’s motivation and meaning needs to be “good” enough or “consistent enough” and is provisional. By good enough I mean what you do and what you value should be consistent with your experiences, your social interactions, the amount of respect you receive, the you get from social interactions, your ability to do things etc. In a sense in this framing a continuous “existential crisis” is part of existence, with one’s sense of meaning being continually updated.

If I were to hazard what meaning “is”, I might split it up into some combinations or being part of the solution to core experiences that you have had, demonstrating that a moral or value framework works, having your actions form part of a shared ideology, coming up with a moral system and world view that can give you what you want while still letting you be part of a community and some other things. Or from a more “evolutionary psychology” perspective you could think of it as a “reward function for doing things that aren’t of value to you”.

At the same time, I think it is important to realise that meaning is only part of one’s mental existence, and more over forms part of feedback loops. In particularly, a desire for meaning can derive from negative experiences - that then strips the meaning necessary for action; or alternatively if successful meaning can “make up” for other deprivations. In a sense, I think meaning is often overrated as a way to interact with the world when compared to “do stuff” or “be part of a community”. On the other hand, work and community can distract one’s sense of meaning from doing something that matters to you.

The conclusion I have come to is that meaning and purpose are part of what might constitute a good life, neither to be ignored not placed above all other things, and one should be aware of the perverse risks and interactions contained within meaning.

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