Living in a world of fabricated meaning

Yes, another entry by someone with a little too much time on their hands; a person who enjoys defending bad opinions for the sake of an argument; a person who questions the boundaries of normalcy just to establish some sense of abnormality in behaviour... Perhaps this is a bit much, but as far as me being a person questioning what society deems normal or not? Yes, it happens every now and then.

In a completely stereotypical post-modern manner let me start by asking; why are you alive? Most would have an almost immediate answer defining their existence broadly in religion, spirituality, capitalism, love, or family, to name a few. While we find comfort in these and other “pillars” of meaning, do we truly find definition or are we too afraid to explore the limits of our existence? I have found some comfort in the fact that our existence is about finding meaning for life. What I do not find comforting is the possibility I may never know the answer to that! After all in a world of seemingly non-linear and chaotic behaviour, one never knows when the old Grim will have his swipe at you. Human nature dictates that we are afraid of dying, it’s as normal as breath. Human beings have also found ways to ignore this fear; be it the belief in an afterlife, reincarnation, security, or superstition. All this ads to a basic need for the human spirit to be placed into or create a meaningful reality. But what if that reality which we hold so preciously was already created out of an illusion to begin with? Staying away from the Wachowski brother's science fiction and with some deliberation you might just find yourself questioning the levels of normalcy which you would otherwise swear to. Consider for a moment your life, daily rituals, job, involvement with money, or moral values. Everything we use to carry out our lives is as a result of some or other instituted progression, be it parenting, culture, law, superstition, or religion. What we fail to consider is the individual autonomy of the human spirit which defines our character! Living with the right to freedom of "choice" is restricted in a great pool of societal norms. If our standards of meaning in life are defined according to false autonomy in a pool of societal norms, how will we ever know the ultimate potential of human existence?

While you mull over this, remember my thoughts are within themselves autonomous, I am merely attempting to start a thought within you.

”I think we have to own the fears we have of each other, and then, in some practical way, some daily way, figure out how to see people differently than we were brought up to.” - Alice Walker