Re: virus: Truth and Meaning

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Thu, 3 Jul 1997 14:35:15 -0700 (PDT)


On Wed, 2 Jul 1997, DJS wrote:

> My purpose in defining the terms is not to force anyone to /use/ my
> definitions, merely so that others may understand how I intend my words to
> be understood. I could strip all connotations by making up new words but
> the connotations of the existing words can act like a mnemonic.

That being so stated, I want to pick at a word:

> Meaning
> _______
>
> I now want to introduce a new term into the discussion: Meaning.
[clip]

> MEANING is a deep commitment a purpose in one's life. Each spiritual
> tradition has deemed different things to be meaningful -- that's what makes
> them different. But there are often common themes of "making a difference",
> "service", "friendship", "connectedness", "charity", "love", and so on.
> Usually they are things which are not easily defined and analyzed, which
> means they often simply get ignored in intellectual discussion.

If I substitute "emotional importance" or "limbic stimulation" in place of
"meaning" I think I can agree with what you're saying. I think that also
turns the head/heart dichotomy into a neo-cortex/limbic dichotomy that is
easier for the scientist/logician to get his or her head around.

-Prof. Tim