Post #30: A Definition of Meaning

In order to measure how meaningful something is, it helps to have a definition of meaning* to measure against.

I’m exploring a more formal definition of meaning that could be used to measure how meaningful something is. The idea being that if a person’s job or a new project idea aligns with one or more of the three goals below, then it’s meaningful.

Here’s are the three goals:

• Increase the amount of healthy and fulfilling time all organisms experience.

• Increase our understanding of reality.

• Ensure the peaceful and productive coexistence of all life to achieve the first two goals.

What do you think of using these goals to define meaning? Anything missing?

*I use the term “meaning” interchangeably with “relevance.” I.e. How meaningful a certain task is equals how “existentially relevant” that task is.

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Here’s an AI experiment you can play with to measure your work (or an idea) against these goals:

https://www.meaningcheck.org/

Just describe your job or idea and you’ll receive an “percentage of alignment” back along with some reasoning.

xo,

Michael