This paper explores the origins of a subjective sense of meaning in life from the perspective of cultural group selection within evolutionary theory. Philosophical underpinnings are discussed, as are the origins or morality and social groups. It is argued that a subjective meaning acts as a motivator of cultural transactions which allowed pre-human groups possessing meaning to survive over groups of individuals lacking meaning. In other words, meaning in human life is grounded upon a desire and need for interpersonal connection.

     Meaning, as defined by positive psychology, is the subjective sense of a connection to something larger than oneself. Through an exploration of evolutionary origins, the following points about meaning are argued: (1) The meaningfulness of human life can be reduced to subjective meaning. (2) Connection to a larger social group was adaptive to the survival of (or naturally selected for in) pre-human organisms including single-cell organisms. (3) Social group connections are modulated by morality which was also shaped by natural selection and evolved alongside the origination of social groups. (4) Along with these adaptations, humans evolved via culture allowing metaphysical concepts of meaning, such as religion, that survived as a result of their benefits for group survival. (5) The subjective feeling of meaning and purpose associated with this connection was an adaptive result of cultural group selection in human groups that motivated individuals to seek out and share cultural knowledge. (6) Meaning, therefore, evolved to encourage an enhanced and deeper pursuit of social connection.

     The upcoming field of positive psychology defines meaning as an individual’s connection to something larger than itself. However, much of the research on happiness and meaning show that interpersonal relationships play a highly significant role in life satisfaction and the pursuit of meaning. There exists, however, no framework in positive psychology to understand this phenomenon.

     Leveraging philosophical arguments about the potential for ultimate, objective meaning in the universe, the construct of meaning can be reduced to a subjective meaning defined and experienced by the individual. This places meaning squarely in the domain of psychological investigations rather than limiting it to theology or philosophy. While philosophical traditions have relied on an intellectualized pursuit of meaning, human life tends to persist with meaning in purpose even without a concerted effort to systematically understand its existence. Thus, the meaning we seek to understand is subjective and an innate human quality.

     An overview of natural selection theory is discussed, providing a framework for understanding arguments of origination. Theories about the origins of the universe are included to present the history of connection—that is, the benefits of stability to things that come together and can therefore persist beyond things with less of an affinity to connect. An interlude into altruism and social policing mechanisms yields a foundation for understanding the origination of morality in social groups of both pre-human animals and humans.
 

     Social groups, ranging from bacterial to bee hives, that work together en masse help us to understand wide-spread cooperation and the benefits to both an individual and the group of an individual sacrificing for the good of the whole. These systems of social survival manifest in humans alongside the hive emotions—feelings that brought humans together and make them feel a sense of wanting to sacrifice for others. Evolution describes the benefits to survival of these emotions and the mechanisms by which they operate (e.g., the hormone oxytocin).
 

     Finally, cultural group selection theory is utilized to develop a theoretical understanding of human beings deep desire to connect with one another. As communication between humans improved over an evolutionary timeline and language formed, groups of individuals that could teach and learn from one another were most likely to survive. A sense of meaning in human life is hypothesized to motivate this connection, which evolved along with other human connection emotions such as compassion.

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