"We humans appear to be meaning-seeking creatures who have had the misfortune of being thrown into a world devoid of intrinsic meaning. One of our major tasks is to invent a meaning sturdy enough to support life and to perform the tricky maneuver of denying our authorship of this meaning. Thus, we conclude it was "out there" waiting for us. Our ongoing search for substantial meaning systems often throws us into crises of meaning."
― Irvin D. Yalom, The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients
"Meaning-seeking creatures" is a term often used to describe human beings. It conveys the idea that humans naturally seek purpose, significance, and understanding in their lives. This concept is often associated with the philosophical and existential quest for meaning, a central theme in the works of many philosophers, psychologists, and thinkers.
The idea is that humans are unique in their ability to contemplate their existence, question the meaning of life, and search for deeper purpose and understanding. This search for meaning can manifest in various ways, including through religion, philosophy, art, science, relationships, and personal experiences. It reflects our innate curiosity and desire to make sense of the world and our place in it.
‘We look and find meaning anywhere we can. Inject enough meaning into an idea, and eventually the idea gets deified, or at least, we start behaving like it is.’ Gapingvoid culture design group
In this episode of the Word Café, I dwell a bit on this and share some thoughts on the topic.
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