Dostoevsky, Milton, and the Changing Definition of “Meaning”

“In the case of our current crisis of meaning, it was only in the 19th century that sensitive figures truly began to grasp the profound changes which had transformed societies.”

Introduction

One of the more interesting recent phenomena in contemporary political discourse has been a resurrection of the politics of meaning. Many pundits and commentators draw explicit links between their political positions and the desire for existential solace in an increasingly nihilistic world. These figures run the gamut of the political spectrum, from right-wing illiberals like Sohrab Ahmari (analyzed here) to left-wing Youtube personalities like Contrapoints. And, of course, intellectual figures from Jordan Peterson to Slavoj Žižek have also offered political analysis loaded with existential significance and reached very different conclusions. To an extent, this reorientation towards existential issues can be welcomed as an opportunity to reflect upon issues which were initially effaced by the triumphalism of post-Cold War “end of history”-type narratives. But it has also generated a tremendous amount of discontent, ranging from the cynical nihilism of withdrawal from the public sphere to a growing number of Augustinian stories about the decline and fall of civilization. A recent article in Quillette by Pascal Bruckner is a good example, closing with a warning that growing toleration and multiculturalism will lead to Europe’s death:

“It is therefore imperative that we retain our self-confidence as combative occidentals, convinced of the uniqueness of our contributions to civilization, and who make no excuses for our existence. Europe needn’t make any pledges. In and of itself, it is a guarantor of democracy that knows better than anyone how to blend freedom and prosperity. America may one day succumb to its vices of violence, inequality, and segregation. But it is sustained by religion and patriotism, which bolster it despite its divisions. Unless Europe changes course, it will die of its virtues.”

In this short article, I am going to examine what the roots of this crisis of meaning are, tracing it back to the advent of modernity. I will also discuss why many of the reactions to this crisis are inadequate, before concluding with some reflections on what a more adequate response might be.