Obviously there is an underlying desire in mankind to achieve more than merely to subsist. Does all this searching for meaning represent a maladjustment to the peculiar state called existence? Or are we truly undergoing an awakening to a very real purpose which has merely been lying dormant, waiting till a stage at which we would be mature enough to understand it?
It is possible that a desire for meaning on a philosophical level stems from an insecurity and a feeling of a lack of belonging or importance. It is clear that meaningfulness (or importance within society) fosters in the individual a sense of security and safety as anything which is considered important and needed will automatically be afforded the appropriate level of protection. It is most likely that the experience of this principle in action during the upbringing of the individual within a family is expressed collectively by society in the search for the meaning of the existence of mankind. In other words, mankind as a collective unit, having felt the onslaught of threatening environmental hazards beyond its control, feels the need to establish an understanding of purpose since pupose implies importance (being needed by something or in order for something to happen) and the human experience of importance teaches him/her that importance results by definition in protection and safety.
Meaning is therfore nothing more than the very primal desire for self-preservation which has been elevated through the complexities of present conscious thought to what is apparently a very noble philosophical level. Expressed in another way, self-preservation has evolved (as we have evolved) into philosophy - the desire to protect our bodies into the desire to find meaning and so secure our existence. One could argue that philosophy is as instinctive to the human being as the basic survival instinct is to a wild animal.
For those who may regard philosophy as some exceptionally noble pursuit, this may be an unacceptable notion. It must be realised though that the intention here is not to denigrate philosophy but rather to understand its rather humble origin. It is not unusual for something esteemed and wondrous to emerge from something we might regard as singularly unappealing. Take for instance that classic example of the caterpillar which is transformed into the stunningly graceful butterfly.
It may be an unpleasant comparison indeed, comparing philosophy with something so primal as basic survival instinct - something we would much rather distance ourselves from. In fact, it's a little embarressing looking back at the rather uncivilised antics of our neanderthall ancestors. After all, now we're toilet-trained. But, it's essential to be reminded every so often of our humble beginnings. Similarly, we should bare in mind the humble origins of what we today consider to be lofty and noble pursuits.