Words and Wants.

I keep on hearing the phrase 'deep and meaningful.' They fall naturally together, don't they, so much so that they're almost synonymous. In fact, they're not, so every time I hear it I catch myself and ask: 'What does 'meaningful' actually mean?' And that sounds counterproductive, and so I change it to: Define the world 'meaningful' without reusing the word you're trying to define. You can't, for example, say that the definition of 'meaningful' is 'that which has the quality of meaning' because it's simply repeating the very word you're trying to understand. It won't do. First you have to define the noun 'meaning', and to do that you have to define the verb 'to mean.' It isn't as easy as it sounds. I've been struggling with it for years and don't seem to be any nearer a solution.

The adjective 'real' is another one. There are even members of the mainstream scientific community who are now questioning whether our perception of the physical environment is real, and whether the environment itself is real and not some arbitrary construction of an unfathomable universe or other power. But what does 'real' actually mean?

I'm beginning to think that if the human race were fully evolved, we wouldn't use language at all. We would rely totally on abstract faculties like intuition, telepathy, and strong senses, although I suspect some elements of science fiction have already done that one.

And now I'm bored thinking about it all.

 

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Do you know what I would really like? Someone physically close with whom I could sit and talk, and who understood me. I expect we'd have deep and meaningful conversations, but I think the hope for that is gone for this lifetime.

 

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The other thing I would really like is a slice of toast and jam because I had only a bowl of home made soup and an olive roll for dinner and I'm feeling peckish. That one I can manage. (And now I'm curious to know whether Americans use the word 'peckish'). Look out you single slice of bread left in the bread wrapper.