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.
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