Are Dreams Meaningful
Are Dreams Meaningful
Are Dreams Meaningful
PHIL 100C
Dr. Borcoman
Since the beginning of time, the interpretation of dreams has been used as a means
to provide guidance for future actions or as warnings. Some dreams are so bizarre that
they have often been ascribed to the soul having an out of body experience (Tedlock,
1987). While dreams are often defined as successions of random visual images, these
images are only a complement to the feeling of being absorbed into a fantasy world in
which things happen, actions are carried out, people are present, and emotions are felt, a
mimicry of the sensation of being awake in every way. While elaborate, mystery still
surrounds the meaningfulness of dreams and how they relate to humanity in this universe.
Many reputable scientists, philosophers, and renowned therapists such as Carl Jung
and Sigmund Freud tried to find the hidden features of personality and gain an
Despite the symbolism and captivating array of ideas to be found in dreams, Fredericks
(1999) states that there is no hard evidence to prove that dreams are any more effective in
understanding a personality than observing it while the individual is fully awake . Even
though there is a lack of scientific data relating to the "meaningfulness" of dreams, the
question of their meaning must be more closely scrutinized in light of the spiritual
In the Summa theologica, Aquinas questions, "Can a created mind realize God's
essence?" To truly answer the question, it is important to first define “realize”. To realize
(1974) emphasizes that Aquinas does not claim that the inability to understand is
entrenched in a part of God that is denied to the limited intellect, in its quest for spiritual
(divine light), but more from its purity which is overwhelming to the limited intellect.
Thomas approaches this idea with due foresight. In stating that the difficulty in
avoids alternatives objectionable to the Christian faith. The same idea may be used in
comprises an indefinitely great number of substances, each one related to the other in a
variety of ways. Above all, however, each one has a certain objective as a result of which,
it is inferior to some and superior to certain others. To achieve these purposes they each
have their own metaphysical structure. Therefore dreams must have a purpose and
structure, which then, plausibly points to the need for them to be meaningful. As an
added result, because all things interact more or less immediately with everything else,
the process of dreaming is part of the process or sensation of being alive. Such a precise
and established order can be understood only by humanity, which has been gifted with
intelligence and free will. Humanity, though a part of the cosmic order, also aids in
resolving what that order is. Every atom of every individual substance contains the
interpretation of each and every cosmic and social order. In each of them man can see the
hierarchy and interrelation of parts. Dreams form a part of human functioning that may
Rajpal Singh
PHIL 100C
Dr. Borcoman
be critical to our greater understanding of the universe, but just like God’s
basic to existence, since all things are part of the same universe. Due to the core nature of
awareness in a dream unless the meaningfulness of being aware while awake is also
dismissed.
that dreams share any link with an individual’s personality, dreams are an advanced part
of the individual, something that is there but from which no meaning can be derived as of
yet. Also dreams are as much a part of our awareness as is the sensation of being awake
and its importance should therefore not be diminished. The proper interpretation of
dreams will probably be possible the day humanity is able to better understand itself and
Flanagan, Owen. Dreaming Souls: Sleep, Dreams and the Evolution of the
Conscious Mind (Philosophy of Mind Series). New York: Oxford University Press, USA,
2001.
The Oxford Companion to the Mind. New York: Oxford University Press, USA,
2004.