Source: “The Fifth Dimension: An Exploration Of The Spiritual Realm”, By John Hick*,* Danforth Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, 2013.
7. The Meaning of Life And How Belief Shapes Reality.mp4
7. Practical Meaning, Cosmic Optimism, and the Unseen Truth of Your Beliefs.m4a
This material explores the concept of "practical meaning," distinguishing it from semantic meaning by focusing on how something dispositionally affects our actions and reactions in the world. It posits that our beliefs are primarily shown through our behavior rather than just our words, extending this idea to animals who display beliefs pre-intellectually. The author then applies this understanding of practical meaning to the "religious meaning of life," suggesting that the major world religions offer comprehensive views of the universe that, when genuinely believed, shape how individuals live their lives. This leads to the idea of "cosmic optimism," which refers to the shared affirmation across many faiths that, despite present suffering, the ultimate nature of reality is benign and offers a path to a limitlessly better future. However, the text also acknowledges a "cosmic pessimism" within some religious traditions, particularly concerning concepts like eternal damnation.
Topic 1 The concept of practical meaning is distinct from semantic meaning, which deals with words and sentences. Instead, practical meaning refers to the direct difference something makes to how individuals act and react in the world. This type of meaning is expressed through a dispositional state, which is a readiness to behave in particular ways due to identifying something as a specific kind of thing, event, or situation. These dispositions are often habitual or stored beliefs, much like confidently walking on a floor without consciously affirming its solidity. For instance, believing the floor is solid is shown by walking on it rather than testing it at each step. This means that a significant portion of one's belief system consists of these persistent behavioral dispositions, indicating that to believe a proposition is to be disposed to act as if it is true, whether or not it's consciously formulated.
Topic 2 The relationship between belief and action is such that an individual's actions are a more reliable indicator of their true beliefs than their words. If someone claims to believe they can walk on hot coals but consistently avoids trying, their actions demonstrate a lack of genuine belief in their assertion. This principle also implies that belief is not exclusive to humans; it can be pre-intellectual and observed in animal behavior. The key difference for humans is the ability to articulate beliefs in language, allowing for conscious contemplation, affirmation, and critique. Humans can also engage in pretense, even deceiving themselves about their beliefs, a capacity not attributed to other animals, who may deceive others but presumably not themselves.
Topic 3 Practical meaning is inherently relative, depending on the species and culture of the perceiver. The significance an object holds is not intrinsic but is shaped by the observer's framework. For example, a tennis ball is seen as a toy by a kitten, while stone-age individuals would perceive it entirely differently, lacking the cultural context of "tennis" or "tennis ball." This illustrates a fundamental epistemological truth: the perceiver significantly contributes to the character and meaning that things hold for them. What something means for us is reflected in the actions we find appropriate or inappropriate in its presence.
Topic 4 The concept of meaning extends beyond individual objects to complex situations. A situation is a collection of objects that collectively possesses a meaning greater than the sum of its individual parts. This situational meaning operates at a higher logical level, presupposing an awareness of individual objects. Human life is typically experienced and navigated at this level of situational meaning. For example, during an academic conference, the meaning of the situation for participants dictates behaviors like presenting papers and asking questions. If people from the Stone Age were to appear, they would not find the same meaning in the physical setup because they would lack the cultural concepts necessary to understand it as a "conference" or "university."
Topic 5 A foundational truth in the understanding of meaning is the significant contribution of the perceiver to all awareness of meaning. This idea has gained wide acceptance since the time of Kant. It is further illuminated by Wittgenstein's concept of "seeing as," exemplified by ambiguous images like the duck-rabbit, which can be perceived in multiple ways. This idea can be expanded to "experiencing as," involving all senses. The analogy of seeing a pattern in a puzzle picture, where a seemingly random scattering of lines and dots suddenly resolves into a recognizable face, offers an insightful parallel. This "seeing the pattern" is suggested as a clue to the nature of religious awareness and, consequently, the religious understanding of the meaning of life.
Topic 6 The fundamental question of the meaning of life, particularly in a religious context, probes the ultimate nature of the universe in which humanity exists. It asks whether this ultimate nature, as far as humans are concerned, is benign, hostile, or indifferent. Recognizing that humans are tiny fragments of the universe, it's acknowledged that comprehending reality as a whole might be beyond human conceptual capacity. However, understanding its nature as it affects humanity is deemed useful and crucial. Knowing the "order of things" or the "government of the universe" in which one is destined to live is invaluable, much like knowing whether one is in a palace or a prison.
Topic 7 Comprehensive religious conceptions of the universe profoundly influence how believers live their lives. When these conceptions are genuinely believed and deeply integrated into an individual's dispositional structure—what is termed a "real assent" as opposed to merely a "notional" one—they automatically shape daily behavior and determine the overall meaning of life. An illustrative analogy involves perceiving a secret society meeting as either a real, alarming event or, upon realizing it's a film set, as a staged performance. The physical events may be the same, but the changed understanding of the broader situation alters one's experience and disposition towards the immediate circumstances, shifting from apprehension to detached observation. This highlights how a deeper understanding can transform the meaning of life's immediate experiences.
Topic 8 "Cosmic optimism" is a generalized term encapsulating the core affirmations of the world's major faiths regarding the Transcendent's relationship with humanity. It suggests that, despite not being a specific term within any single religion, it captures their shared positive outlook. Monotheistic faiths, for instance, declare the boundless love, grace, and mercy of their divine figures, such as the steadfast love of the God of Israel, the limitless love of the New Testament's Heavenly Father, or Allah's gracious and merciful nature. This core idea posits that the ultimate reality is fundamentally benign from a human perspective.
Topic 9 The concept of cosmic optimism extends beyond theistic traditions to non-theistic faiths as well. In advaitic Hinduism, it is affirmed that humanity's deepest nature is inherently one with the infinite reality of Brahman, implying a potential for realizing this true self. Similarly, in Buddhism, it is taught that our true nature is united with the universal buddha nature of the universe. In both cases, these traditions teach a path towards a salvific transformation, whether sudden or gradual, in this life or across many. This transformation leads to a new relationship with, or a newly discovered identity with, ultimate reality, reflecting an underlying optimistic view of human potential and destiny.