052 - Is Meaning Fundamental to the Universe? Synchronicity, Semiotics, Logotherapy, & Hegel

The Cunning of Geist

We all have experienced synchronicity, where causally unconnected events have a unique meaning to us. Psychologist Carl Jung proposed that there was indeed an acausal connecting principle behind such occurrences.
In fact, "meaning" may indeed be fundamental to the cosmos. American philosopher C.S. Peirce believed it was so. And Hegel did as well, epitomized by his famous dictum, "Substance is subject."
Even on an existential basis, many have argued that one must create their own meaning and purpose in life in order to thrive. One such example is the best-selling book "Man's Search for Meaning" by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp and what he learned about survival. He developed a therapeutic approach called Logotherapy based on this.
This podcast explores this question from the persective of Jung, Peirce, Frankl, and Hegel.

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