RE: Nihilism
January 13, 2018 at 2:41 am
(This post was last modified: January 13, 2018 at 2:46 am by GrandizerII.)
Hard determinism doesn't necessarily lead to fatalism, but it does logically lead to nihilism (at least the way I understand it). However, if like me, you adhere to the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, you are obliged to accepted that fatalism (at least to some degree) is logical. It means there is nothing you can do to 100% prevent any possible future from occurring. You might be in a world where a terrible future awaits you (we don't know for sure), and (if so) there is nothing you can do about it. Hell, even with other interpretations of quantum mechanics (Copenhagen), this can be the case as well, as futures are probabilistically determined rather than 100% determined by antecedents. The cosmos is perhaps more disturbing than is commonly thought.
That said, I do agree it is important to find healthy psychological means to cope with the implications of such views, but without having to delude ourselves. My way of coping with this is simply to just go with the flow and don't dwell on worst case scenarios that are unlikely to occur in this universe. Also, just because all metaphysical possibilities may be actualized does not mean we know with 100% certainty what are all metaphysical possibilities. It may be the fact, that given who I am, there are scary/disturbing futures that may never happen to me because they would be metaphysically impossible (impossible under certain contexts). Perhaps my doppelgangers (with exact genetics and experiences up till their equivalent of my current moment) will never in one universe be as heinous as, say, Hitler because the way I'm conditioned would absolutely never lead to that kind of outcome. I hope so.
I don't believe change is actual (I think it's an illusion). Doesn't mean it's irrational to live life seeing that change does occur experientially (even if not metaphysically).
That said, I do agree it is important to find healthy psychological means to cope with the implications of such views, but without having to delude ourselves. My way of coping with this is simply to just go with the flow and don't dwell on worst case scenarios that are unlikely to occur in this universe. Also, just because all metaphysical possibilities may be actualized does not mean we know with 100% certainty what are all metaphysical possibilities. It may be the fact, that given who I am, there are scary/disturbing futures that may never happen to me because they would be metaphysically impossible (impossible under certain contexts). Perhaps my doppelgangers (with exact genetics and experiences up till their equivalent of my current moment) will never in one universe be as heinous as, say, Hitler because the way I'm conditioned would absolutely never lead to that kind of outcome. I hope so.
(January 12, 2018 at 11:03 am)Hammy Wrote: It's fine to be irrational as long as you can function. I do think it's stupid and I would rather be rational though.
I don't believe change is actual (I think it's an illusion). Doesn't mean it's irrational to live life seeing that change does occur experientially (even if not metaphysically).
