Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Human's Search For Meaning

Life and history, when reflected on with any sophistication, deny us the security of fixed meaning.
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Kieran Egan, Professor of Education (2008)

The human qualities that differentiate us most vividly from mice and dogs and chimpanzees are wonderment and a constant search for meaning. This search for meaning is a dynamic process.

What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.
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Victor Frankl, Psychiatrist and Holocoust Survivor (1955)

Once we have the right answer to something, whether it be a question of metaphysical proportions or simply the time of day, the search ends and the answer is now potentially historic. Although a final answer may allow us to move to the next task or subject of attention with a sense of accomplishment, moving on permanently initiates crystalization of thought and terminates our growth in that area. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but the more important the question is to us, the less likely it is we will reach a final answer today, or ever. There is much beauty in the search; revel in its energy and embrace the process.

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