The Meaning of Meaning

The question seems like a cliché in our jaded post modern millenial world;

“What is the meaning of life?”

But I put forth an alternative question, an expansion on the semantics of the words above.

I.e., “What is the meaning of meaning?”

A seemingly simple question if we stick to the absolute literal, that is the typical Webster’s or Oxford dictionary definition of the word “meaning,” but less so when we elaborate on the inherant absences of what we mean by the word “meaning.”

Yes, I know this sounds like a Bill Clinton redox on what “is, is?” but this is not some pretentious use of rhetoric to dodge questions equivilant to what might as well have been locker room talk.  

Essentially I am asking the question that when we do in fact ask, “What is the meaning of life?”  are we assuming that the definition of the word “meaning” is inherant or not?  Is the meaning of “meaning” all encompassing and do we ask the question assuming so?

And like Socrates was famous for, I leave this question unanswered to you all, to assure our minds carry on, even frustratingly so.  😉