[Angela]

Originally Posted by Megan

You mean...the meaning we make is not inherent in the universe?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Megan

Where does it come from then, pray tell?

We generate it. Before we generate it, it doesn't exist as the inherent meaning in the universe. I see what you mean that if we generate it, then it's inherently part of the universe; what I'm saying is that meaning doesn't just BE out there, waiting for us to be smart enough to discover or figure it out.

Originally Posted by Megan

So...in general, would you say that the meaning the suicide bombers make works for us, the human race, as well as the meaning the framers of the US Constitution make for us?

I would say, specifically, that the meaning generated by the men who framed the US Constitution works much better for me than the meaning generated by any suicide bomber.

And yes, I reckon that the meanings that work better for me (and you!) are more geared towards the long-term evolutionary progress of mankind.

However, I was responding to your comment: "But...say...there's nothing quite like the passion of feeling that the Universe is actually meaningful, and that a higher life form evolving would actually be meaningful" -- and pointing out that I think the only reason that the universe is meaningful, is because we fill it with meaning. Us. Humans. It's not there till we do. It wouldn't be there if we didn't make it. Again, I wasn't making any moral or value comparisons between your remark and any conflicting ideas, and couldn't figure out why you thought I was.

"Ah, so the suicide bombers' meaning is on a par with the meaning of the framers of the US Constitution?"

In that humans generate the meanings, yes. Also in that each person has the right to generate their own meaning, yes. Naturally that means living (or dying, as the case may be) with the consequences of those meanings. Which meanings I prefer to generate and live by is quite another story. The reason I'm being careful with this is that it chafes me when folks stake claim on what the universe "means" (or "wants"), as if they are stating an ultimate truth, whether they are a suicide bomber, a faithhead, a scientist, an employer, or little ol' moi. I don't think you're doing that, by the way -- stating anything as an absolute truth.