johnmortons
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- Apr 23, 2003
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i guess it's just all a matter of definition of 'meaning'?
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does literature ever mean anything?
- Thread starter johnmortons
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... and probably a definition of 'literature', not to mention 'ja' and 'nein' 
... But yes, if we're approaching this from a 'logical positivist' perspective, then these definitions will be dependent upon our definition of 'meaning'.
Semantics aside, I think it's indisputable that literature has an effect, but it might be hard to isolate this effect / to differentiate it from the effects of other artforms, the effect of deep and meaningful conversations, the effect of perceiving a beautiful sunset, the effect of creative thought...
In the end, everything is interrelated and has no self-nature. Literature included. A term like 'literature' points to a storm in the flux. You can never capture that storm in its entirity, or at any particular moment in time. You can never quantify all of its causes and effects. The storm ebbs and flows, lulls and rages, consumes us yet escapes us. That is my belief.
... But yes, if we're approaching this from a 'logical positivist' perspective, then these definitions will be dependent upon our definition of 'meaning'. Semantics aside, I think it's indisputable that literature has an effect, but it might be hard to isolate this effect / to differentiate it from the effects of other artforms, the effect of deep and meaningful conversations, the effect of perceiving a beautiful sunset, the effect of creative thought...
In the end, everything is interrelated and has no self-nature. Literature included. A term like 'literature' points to a storm in the flux. You can never capture that storm in its entirity, or at any particular moment in time. You can never quantify all of its causes and effects. The storm ebbs and flows, lulls and rages, consumes us yet escapes us. That is my belief.
wesmdow
Bluelighter
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- Dec 13, 2004
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ill go out on a limb and say literature does have meaning:
literature, and the written word, have a unique standing in human culture-- they are a necessity, and as such they have 'meaning.'
we as a species rely on the ability to communicate, and literature is (one of) our means of communication.
...and of course its always possible to argue semantics around the word "meaning"
....does ANYTHING have any meaning?
literature, and the written word, have a unique standing in human culture-- they are a necessity, and as such they have 'meaning.'
we as a species rely on the ability to communicate, and literature is (one of) our means of communication.
...and of course its always possible to argue semantics around the word "meaning"
....does ANYTHING have any meaning?