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A constant conjunction is a function of consciousness in the observer. The observer feels that it is a necessity for him that the conjunction should have a meaning for him. Meaning is a function of self-love, self-hate or self-knowledge; it is not logically, but psycho-logically necessary. The constant conjunction, once named, must, as a matter of psychic necessity, then be found to have a meaning. Once psychologically necessary meaning has been achieved reason, as the slave of the passions, transforms psycho-logically necessary meaning into logically necessary meaning. Inadequacy of hallucinatory gratification to promote mental growth impels activity designed to provide ‘true’ meaning: it is felt that the meaning attributed to the constant conjunction must have a counterpart in the realization of the conjunction. Therefore the activity of the reason as the slave of the passions is inadequate. In terms of the theory of pleasure/pain principle there is a conflict between pleasure principle and reality principle to obtain control of the reason. The objection to a meaningless universe (however big or small it may be thought to be) derives from fear that the lack of meaning is a sign that meaning has been destroyed and the threat this holds for essential narcissism. If any given universe cannot yield a meaning for the individual, his narcissism demands the existence of a god, or some ultimate object, for which it has a meaning from which meaning he is supposed to benefit. In some instances meaninglessness is attacked by splitting and projected into an object. Meaning or its lack, in analysis, is a function of self-love, self-hate, self-knowledge.
If narcissistic love is unsatisfied the development of love is disturbed and cannot extend to love of objects. Disturbed self-love is accompanied by intolerance of meaning or its lack. The one
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