Quote:
Originally Posted by Nihil
Indeed, I have researched some of existentialism, though like Camus I would not consider myself an existentialist, but I do not think the question of whether or not "existence precedes essence", for example, is solvable. It lays outside the bounds of human reason, and is purely metaphysical speculation.
People often frame the answer to the question of what we do if our lives have no meaning as "either I commit suicide, or I do not". This is a rather silly position, however. Neither committing suicide, nor staying alive, are rational decisions. They are based only on emotional motivation. We live primarily for the hope that we would not be in distress; yet we often are in distress. Distress is the natural condition of human existence, it could not be any other way. Some people do not like that, and they commit suicide- if you feel that you must, at some point in this existential crisis, then that is your decision. But I cannot help you if you do decide you want to.
I would enjoy the company of someone like you myself. I am rather interested in finding nihilistic people and engaging in conversation with them.  |
Ah, Camus.
I recently finished reading "The Stranger" a brilliant piece of literature, by the way. I absolutely adored it.
I understand what you are saying there. I literally had a "friend" tell me just the other day "Since you see no meaning in life, why not just kill yourself? End it all?" I tried to explain things to her, but she was very set in her own beliefs (not to mention drunken and far from fit for real conversation). I don't believe there is ever any truly rational decision in life. I believe you are right, distress must be the natural condition of human existence. There are forever too many opposing and contradicting forces for it to be otherwise.. Suicide is what generally occurs when stress/trauma exceed coping mechanisms or resources. I actually wrote up a moderately sizes summary of suicide, how it ought to be viewed, and why it is truly no one but the individual contemplating such's position to convince them in or out of it.
Eventually, I intend to end my life by my own hand, after I have had the chance to experience a bit more of this world, and before I become so dependent that I must rely on others for ever minuscule detail of my day, such as going to the bathroom or bathing- I do not want to reach such a stage in life. My set age and date is rather late in life, but I know (especially considering female statistics and facts on suicide) that something may prompt me to end my life sooner. I set the date so late in order to attempt to prevent unnecessary pain in any who might care, though pain in itself is meaningless as "life goes on" and "feelings fade".
Similarly, I would enjoy a conversational partner such as yourself. It is not often that I find another human with whom I may discuss the way I perceive reality without some attempt by them to change me.