06 July 2013

Nihilism, or How We Become Useless Eaters

The post immediately below this one provoked a few emails about the definition of "nihilism."  Since I'm spending my days hiding from the squirrels and flopping around in bed with a good book, I will quote a reliable source:

The caustic strength of nihilism is absolute, Nietzsche argues, and under its withering scrutiny “the highest values devalue themselves. The aim is lacking, and ‘Why’ finds no answer” (Will to Power). Inevitably, nihilism will expose all cherished beliefs and sacrosanct truths as symptoms of a defective Western mythos. This collapse of meaning, relevance, and purpose will be the most destructive force in history, constituting a total assault on reality and nothing less than the greatest crisis of humanity:
What I relate is the history of the next two centuries. I describe what is coming, what can no longer come differently: the advent of nihilism. . . . For some time now our whole European culture has been moving as toward a catastrophe, with a tortured tension that is growing from decade to decade: restlessly, violently, headlong, like a river that wants to reach the end. . . . (Will to Power)
Since Nietzsche’s compelling critique, nihilistic themes–epistemological failure, value destruction, and cosmic purposelessness–have preoccupied artists, social critics, and philosophers.
 
[. . .]
 
By the late 20th century, “nihilism” had assumed two different castes. In one form, “nihilist” is used to characterize the postmodern person, a dehumanized conformist, alienated, indifferent, and baffled, directing psychological energy into hedonistic narcissism or into a deep ressentiment that often explodes in violence. This perspective is derived from the existentialists’ reflections on nihilism stripped of any hopeful expectations, leaving only the experience of sickness, decay, and disintegration.
 
[. . .]
 
In The Banalization of Nihilism (1992) Karen Carr discusses the antifoundationalist response to nihilism. Although it still inflames a paralyzing relativism and subverts critical tools, “cheerful nihilism” carries the day, she notes, distinguished by an easy-going acceptance of meaninglessness. Such a development, Carr concludes, is alarming. If we accept that all perspectives are equally non-binding, then intellectual or moral arrogance will determine which perspective has precedence. Worse still, the banalization of nihilism creates an environment where ideas can be imposed forcibly with little resistance, raw power alone determining intellectual and moral hierarchies. It’s a conclusion that dovetails nicely with Nietzsche’s, who pointed out that all interpretations of the world are simply manifestations of will-to-power.
 
Bottom-line: once a culture has ceased linking the Good with the True, only Power matters. IOW, those with the most money and guns make the rules. And there's Nothing-No One There to appeal to when Money and Guns decides that you are a useless eater.
____________

Follow HancAquam or Subscribe and DONATE! ----->

6 comments:

  1. I think we need to move. After reading the full article it dawned upon me that the community here is probably ahead of the curve on this. And they are so blissfully unaware of the logical outcome of their thoughts and actions. I find it exceedingly difficult to hold conversations with an increasing array of people, because we simple do not speak the same language. Ostensibly it is English, but I keep getting told that I have an "old-fashioned" view both of language (what words mean) and society.

    I think I may have to start reading philosophy again. I've gotten rusty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Words change meaning over time, of course. The problem starts with the notion that our descriptions of reality change reality. This is the political power of PC "tolerance." Now that same-sex couples can "marry," marriage no longer means what it has always meant. How long before we are forced to start using some other word to denote sacramental marriage?

      Delete
    2. Exactly. Same sex "marriage" being a primary issue I've been engaged in debating, since it is legal here. "Dignity" as in death with dignity since physician-assisted suicide is now legal here too. Physicians are told to out right lie on the death certificate, checking off death from natural causes on the death certificate of patients who have chosen the death with dignity option. Is the definition of death from natural causes also changing? The concept/meaning of rights is also changing.

      Our office received a mailing from the compassion choices of Washington coalition. Within that there was some telling information. "In no other state have voters directly insisted on having both the right to reproductive choice, aid in dying, and same-sex marriage, which the church also opposes… More Catholic healthcare in Washington means that more physicians are prohibited from participating in the death with dignity act, and more terminally ill patients are denied information about their legal right to aid in dying or are delayed in receiving referrals to compassion and choices of Washington. Denials and delays often result in patients never finding out about the law or starting the process of using the law too late, ultimately denying them the option of a death on their own terms."

      I figure my choice is either to move or to plan to do battle. It looks more and more like battle. Would you consider doing a seminar for non-seminarians on the topic? If you are already preparing an elective course for the seminarians.... Courses/seminars I have found only treat the symptoms and fail to dig into the root causes.

      Delete
  2. An alternative form of rejection against nihilism in the Boomer/Generation of 68 ideology of multiculturalism. On Amazon, Markus Willinger's war manifesto "Generation Identity." On the first page, "You've reduced the Church to rubble, so that now only a few of us find refuge in the ruins of that community." A review here: http://www.counter-currents.com/2013/07/markus-willingers-generation-identity/print/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Multi-cultism may have been an alternative to nihilism in '68. Now, however, the Cult of Diversity and Tolerance is the driving force of PC'ism and the main culprit in cultural nihilism.

      Delete
    2. DrAndro, have you read the Willingers book? I'd be curious about your reaction.

      Delete