Does The Universe Have Any Meaning?

One of the deepest philosophical questions that has plagued human thought for ages is whether or not our existence has any meaning. There is the existential form of the question that is concerned with whether there’s a point or purpose to our existence. However, there is also the epistemological form of the question that is concerned with whether the universe is meaningful and can be known or understood. It can be argued that the two forms of the question cannot be divorced from each other, but let’s focus on the epistemological form for now.


First let us think about what meaning means. What do we have in mind when we say something is meaningful? To understand this, we must understand the difference between denotation and connotation. In linguistics, denotation refers to the literal or dictionary meaning of a word or expression while connotation refers to the underlying ideas or emotions associated with the word.


When we talk about meaning, we are usually referring to connotation. When I look at a piece of art, I know what it is - I know the way the colors and images are arranged, I know their sizes, shapes, etc. All these are what the art denotes. However, when I inquire about the meaning of the artwork, I’m looking for its connotation - the underlying message, emotion, or idea behind the work. In other words, I’m searching for its interpretation. 


We can observe that connotation or interpretation presupposes purpose, intention, deliberation - attributes of a rational agent. A piece of art has an underlying idea or an associated emotion because it is the product of a rational person. People don't go around looking for the meaning behind the marks a chicken leaves on the ground while searching for food. People try to find meaning behind stories, works of art, etc - things that owe their existence to the exercise of a rational will. 


The atheist presupposes that there is no rational will behind the facts of the universe. Why, then, does he assume the universe is something that can be known or understood? Why does he seek purpose within it?


If the unbeliever were consistent, he would treat the world he experiences no different from the random arrangement of sand on the beach - something that just is and is devoid of meaning or purpose. 


Only the Christian has any philosophical right to try to understand the universe. He knows the universe and history is as a result of God’s plan so, relying on divine revelation, he tries to understand that plan and his place within it. 


This is yet another illustration of the transcendental necessity of Christianity. This is something I go deeper into in The Best Argument for Christianity - you can grab a copy here.

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