What is it that makes things with substance have meaning? Is it actuality or something else entirely?
nothing innately has meaning. someone or something else has to give meaning.
of course, it could be kind of an existential question. sarte would say to think of scissors. they are made through a defined process with a defined purpose. some engineer made them to cut paper, and he had the idea of what it would be and do the whole time. in this situation, purpose and definition predated existence.
mankind is unique in that it has no definition that predates his existence. we all come in to the world, into the same circumstance of being thrust into the world. however, we are all different. we have different feelings. we take different paths in life. through these experience we are matured and refined, and with the thoughts and knowledge we gain, we form our own purpose. we frame our world ourselves and define what purpose and meaning is.
this is all basically to say that, since man finds his own purpose in life, there is no creator. no one designed us each for this world. we have to go out into it as living thinking creatures and decide for ourselves who and what we are.
in my opinion, most people end up only being 40% of what they think they are. the other 60% is what everyone else thinks you are. you have to use your 40% to mold yourself into what you'd like to be. however, if the majority thinks you are something else, you can't stop them. others can define you. they can, detain you, imprison, hurt, or kill you. in that way others can define what you are regardless of your opinion of it. which is why it is the 60%.
it's really up to each person to decide i guess. this is just one way of looking at it.
and i'm crazy just woke up rambling.