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Single Idea 19617

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism ]

Full Idea

By all evidence, we are in the world to do nothing.

Gist of Idea

Evidence suggests that humans do not have a purpose

Source

E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 1 'Militant')

Book Ref

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.46


A Reaction

I'm not clear what evidence there could be. Other animals are all enmeshed in a particular environment. As soon as homo sapiens left Africa, it became a baffling phenonomen. I'm not sure what an alligator is in the world for, either.


The 19 ideas with the same theme [human life seems pointless and absurd]:

Jacobi was the first philosopher to talk of nihilism [Jacobi, by Critchley]
For me time stands still, and I with it [Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
My eternal recurrence is opposed to feeling fragmented and imperfect [Nietzsche]
For the strongest people, nihilism gives you wings! [Nietzsche]
The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose [Nietzsche]
Modern nihilism is now feeling tired of mankind [Nietzsche]
Nihilism results from measuring the world by our categories which are purely invented [Nietzsche]
Nietzsche urges that nihilism be active, and will nothing itself [Nietzsche, by Zizek]
Initially nihilism was cosmic, but later Nietzsche saw it as a cultural matter [Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
The greatest experience possible is contempt for your own happiness, reason and virtue [Nietzsche]
The pointlessness of our motives and irrelevance of our gestures reveals our vacuity [Cioran]
Evidence suggests that humans do not have a purpose [Cioran]
The universe is dirty and fragile, as if a scandal in nothingness had produced its matter [Cioran]
If we believe existence is absurd, this should dictate our conduct [Camus]
Happiness and the absurd go together, each leading to the other [Camus]
'Absurdity' is just the result of our wrong choices in life [Solomon]
If a small brief life is absurd, then so is a long and large one [Nagel]
Life is only absurd if you expected an explanation and none turns up [Graham]
Perceiving meaninglessness is an achievement, which can transform daily life [Critchley]