Middle Way Philosophy 3: The Integration of Meaning

by Robert M. Ellis

Planned Contents

1)    Our experience of meaning

a)    The cognitive and emotional spheres of meaning

b)    Meaning and communication

c)    Language and other symbols

d)    The physical basis of meaning

e)    Metaphorical extension

f)     Representationalist objections to pragmatism

g)    The practical importance of semantics

h)   The implications of pragmatic meaning for logic

2)    Fragmentation of meaning

a)    Cognitive and emotional fragmentation

b)    Defeasibility contexts

c)    Linguistic fragmentation

d)    Cultural fragmentation

e)    Interpersonal fragmentation

f)     Archetypal fragmentation

g)    Fragmentation as a condition for conflict

3)    Fragmenting philosophies

a)    Linguistic idealism

b)    Representationalism and religion

c)    Representationalism and analytic philosophy

d)    Representationalism and politics

e)    Expressivism

4)    The Archetypes

a)    The role of archetypes in meaning

b)    The Hero

c)    The Shadow

d)    The Anima/Animus

e)    The Wise Old Man/Woman

5)    The practice of integrating meaning

a)    Integrating language

b)    Integrating culture

c)    Music

d)    The visual arts

e)    Story and literature

f)     Ritual and theatre

g)    Film

h)   Loving-kindness meditation

6)    Integrative achievement in meaning

a)    Temporary forms of meaning-integration

b)    Asymmetrical forms of meaning-integration

c)    Political forms of meaning-integration

d)    The limits of meaning-integration

Return to Middle Way Philosophy Series page