more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 20125
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism
]
Full Idea
That what happens necessarily, spontaneously and without any purpose, may henceforth appear to be done for some purpose, and strike man as rational and an ultimate commandment, the ethical teacher comes on stage, as teacher of the purpose of existence.
Gist of Idea
The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882], §001)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Gay Science', ed/tr. Kaufmann,Walter [Vintage 1974], p.75
A Reaction
This doesn't look like much of a solution to the problem of nihilism, unless the teacher plants an idea in us which endures and grows. Nietzsche's 'eternal recurrence' was supposed to be just such an idea.
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[human life seems pointless and absurd]:
|
7072
|
Jacobi was the first philosopher to talk of nihilism
[Jacobi, by Critchley]
|
|
22090
|
For me time stands still, and I with it
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
|
24123
|
My eternal recurrence is opposed to feeling fragmented and imperfect
[Nietzsche]
|
|
23214
|
For the strongest people, nihilism gives you wings!
[Nietzsche]
|
|
20125
|
The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose
[Nietzsche]
|
|
23717
|
Modern nihilism is now feeling tired of mankind
[Nietzsche]
|
|
7198
|
Nihilism results from measuring the world by our categories which are purely invented
[Nietzsche]
|
|
9782
|
Nietzsche urges that nihilism be active, and will nothing itself
[Nietzsche, by Zizek]
|
|
7847
|
Initially nihilism was cosmic, but later Nietzsche saw it as a cultural matter
[Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
|
|
18286
|
The greatest experience possible is contempt for your own happiness, reason and virtue
[Nietzsche]
|
|
19622
|
The pointlessness of our motives and irrelevance of our gestures reveals our vacuity
[Cioran]
|
|
19617
|
Evidence suggests that humans do not have a purpose
[Cioran]
|
|
19612
|
The universe is dirty and fragile, as if a scandal in nothingness had produced its matter
[Cioran]
|
|
9243
|
If we believe existence is absurd, this should dictate our conduct
[Camus]
|
|
6708
|
Happiness and the absurd go together, each leading to the other
[Camus]
|
|
23941
|
'Absurdity' is just the result of our wrong choices in life
[Solomon]
|
|
3268
|
If a small brief life is absurd, then so is a long and large one
[Nagel]
|
|
6688
|
Life is only absurd if you expected an explanation and none turns up
[Graham]
|
|
6843
|
Perceiving meaninglessness is an achievement, which can transform daily life
[Critchley]
|