OK, this post is for anyone who is interested in a deity mindset. One way deities distinguish themselves from mortals is that deities are fully responsible for all or most of their own structural, key narratives. Or meanings. Same thing.

So it really helps to understand how ordinary people proceed with regard to assigning meanings to experiences. Let’s assume something that isn’t yet established in one’s experience. It’s new. So there must be a way to create a meaning for some new experience. So below is a slightly exaggerated example, which I am going to exaggerate to convey a point:

Person A: Do you see something over there?

B: No.

A: Look right oooooovverrrr theeere. Do you see it now?

B: Oh yea, I see it.

A: What do you think it is?

B: It just moved.

A: I see it too.

B: It looks like a snake, might be a lizard.

A: Lets get closer.

(They capture the creature.)

A: It’s a new one. I don’t think I can find this creature in any of our existing creature taxonomies.

B: We’ll need to name it.

A: And after that we’ll have to dissect it and have a convention to decide how to classify it.

B: Oh yea. Totally. So do you think I should name it because I saw it move first?

A: No way. I saw it first before it even moved. I think I should name it.

B: Let’s name it together. We can give a two word name, and you can come up with the first one and I’ll come up with the second one.

A: OK, deal.

OK, so this is a very innocent example, but I want people to pay attention to something.

Notice how they each defer to the other, and then they plan to defer to a convention? In almost every line above they defer to the other.

Notice how neither one dares to unilaterally proclaim the meaning of what’s happening? Instead they throw the task of meaning construction like a hot potato between themselves, and then they make plans to involve a big gathering of people to hash out the full meaning together.

So if you think you’re a smart cookie, pause reading after the next question and try to answer it yourself. Then look back and see what I think.

What does any of that have to do with physicalism?? (OK, try to answer this on your own.)

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So, here it is. It has everything to do with physicalism. Because physicalism is an idea that there is some neutral objective common ground “out there,” and so, because of that, the best way to get to know that common ground is to ask as many observers as possible (peer review) and cross-check everyone’s reactions. Because we assume whatever it is must be in common to all observers, then whatever is commonly reported by some observers must be a reference to that neutral objective domain “out there.”

OK?

So physicalism is intimately connected to this multilateral meaning construction.

And now here’s one of my favorite video clips from The Matrix to cement this point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svfDdcPmELk

Notice how Neo behaves. Neo here wants the Oracle to confirm to him, to approve him, to bless him as The One, even AFTER the Oracle straight up told Neo that NO ONE can tell him if he’s The One or not. She says you just know it the same way you know you’re in love. You don’t go to see a love specialist to get your love tested and validated, lol. You just know it. Balls to bones, as she says (love is like madness, hint, hint). Exactly. So Neo is really stupid in that part of the movie. Notice how even to the last moment the Oracle doesn’t pronounce any judgement upon Neo. Instead she plays with Neo’s insecurity and doubt and gets Neo himself to disempower himself. Neo voluntarily and ignorantly relinquishes his power by saying he’s not the one.

So blow by blow:

1. Neo hopes for Oracle to say he’s the one.

2. The Oracle doesn’t feed into his hope. She instead plays with his insecurity to see if Neo will let her continue developing meanings for him.

3. Neo waits for more from the Oracle, still hopeful, because he didn’t understand what she was saying about being the one was like being in love.

4. The Oracle says, “you know what I will say next.”

5. Neo could have said, “That I am the One!” But nope. He’s insecure and doubt is consuming him. He’s so used to other people telling him what to do and who he is and who he is not. Isn’t the Oracle some kind of expert? Aren’t you supposed to trust experts? He’s so very very dependent on the Oracle as a source of meaning, as a validator, as an approver and a blesser, and she’s kind of cold… so his insecurity gets the best of him and he blurts out “I am not the One.”

6. The Oracle sees this weakness and says “sorry.”

7. And that line about “waiting for something” is pure gold too. :) But really that line is too hardcore for most of us. But wait… you’re not going to let me tell you that? Are you? WEEELLL??? Are you?

So be careful friends. Don’t be stupid. Don’t do what Neo was doing in that clip. And this doesn’t only apply to big meanings like “the one.” It can apply to all sorts of meanings.