Meaning as Transmission

Research Focus

We explore how meaning is shifting from a shared intergenerational responsibility to an isolated individual burden in modern Western societies. Drawing on the teachings of Anangu elder Bob Randall, we contrast contemporary loneliness and legacy anxiety with an Indigenous ontology of continuity and relational obligation. Within this framework, persons act as temporary custodians of knowledge and law, finding purpose through their service to family, land, and future generations. We suggest that individualism erodes the structures of transmission that once allowed meaning to persist beyond a single human lifespan. By embracing humility and defined relational roles, individuals can view death not as an end to significance, but as a natural passage within an ongoing cycle of life. We advocate for a reframed humanism that situates dignity in our interconnectedness and faithful participation in the long-term survival of our collective stories.