MD Nihilism

From: Ant McWatt (antmcwatt@hotmail.co.uk)
Date: Thu Feb 24 2005 - 16:45:46 GMT

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    Marsha stated February 24th:

    If I say there is no absolute God to guide or save me, no absolute morality,
    and no absolute truth, am I a nihilist?

    Ant McWatt notes: Yes, I think that would be a fair description. Nihilism
    is the logical endpoint of SOM (Enlightenment) philosophy.

    Marsha stated February 24th:

    I think the answer would be yes. If life is a process, a series of events,
    how could it be otherwise?

    Ant McWatt notes: Well, this is where the MOQ should help for while it
    agrees with nihilism that there is no static purposes or ends in the
    universe, it recognises that there is a Dynamic one. An ongoing creative
    dance that – on the whole - is becoming ever more sophisticated and
    wondrous.

    Marsha stated February 24th:

    Or to explore it differently, what would the opposite of nihilism require?
    Purpose?
    What of the emotions, fear and depression, attached to [nihilism]? Are they
    justified?

    Ant McWatt notes: Yes. Read Bodvar Skutvik’s “The Quality Event” on
    MOQ.org about how a (pre-Pirsig) nihilistic worldview can affect someone.
    It doesn’t make for light reading.

    Marsha stated February 24th:

    I have read more than once that there are [no] absolutes in the Buddhist
    philosophy. Could the idea of nihilism flourish in the Zen philosophy.

    Ant McWatt notes: I doubt it as the drive towards harmonious living
    (espoused by Zen) could be seen as an open-ended (i.e. Dynamic) absolute.

    Marsha stated February 24th:

    Or should the word "nihilism" be erased, banished from all Western
    vocabularies?

    Ant McWatt notes: No, as it points to an important negative i.e. a universe
    without genuine human values.

    Marsha concluded February 24th:

    Deep in my bones I know there is no answer, there never was a answer and
    there never will be an answer. Yet,,, I keep asking. I am such a foolish
    woman.

    Ant McWatt notes: Marsha, you are asking some fundamental philosophical
    questions here. Anyway, no one who throws their TV out could be considered
    foolish. As a student, I often did without TV for many months and after a
    couple of weeks didn’t miss it. The Student Union Bar was usually a far
    more Dynamic experience! :-)

    Best wishes,

    Anthony

    _________________________________________________________________
    Express yourself with cool new emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo


    attached mail follows:



    All,

    I'd like to keep this thread going.  Maybe just for myself.   I need to explore this word, this concept.  I hope you'll ignore, and forgive me if I ramble, but it's required.  There is no one in my circle of family and friends who think about such things.  I am an outlander. 

    I am not a philosopher.  I will appreciate and try to explore all assistance and challenges to my fuzzy thinking.  But in the end, it will be my gut, not words that will determine the next step.  

    If I say there is no absolute God to guide or save me, no absolute morality, and no absolute truth, am I a nihilist?  I think the answer would be yes.  If life is a process, a series of events, how could it be otherwise? 

    Or to explore it differently, what would the opposite of nihilism require?  Purpose?  

    What of the emotions, fear and depression, attached to this word, this concept?  Are they justified?   Does it follow that without absolutes, there is chaos?  Are fear and depression inherent in the definition of nihilism?  Or are they secondarily associated?  How do they arrive?  From what SD system to they come? 

    I have read more than once that there are know absolutes in the Buddhist philosophy.  Could the idea of nihilism flourish in the Zen philosophy.  It's meaning and/or its emotions?  Isn't this an important aspect of Eastern philosophies to be explored? 

    Or should the word "nihilism" be erased, banished from all Western vocabularies?

    Deep in my bones I know there is no answer, there never was a answer and there never will be an answer.  Yet,,, I keep asking.  I am such a foolish woman. 

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