Dare To Inquire: A Philosophical Deadend    
 A Philosophical Deadend4 comments
30 Jun 2004 @ 12:35, by Bruce Kodish

So you think you got problems? Here's a brief entry from William L. Reese's Dictionary of Philosophy and Religion (which might cheer you up--as it did me) on the extreme pessimistic philosopher Phillip Mainlander (1841-1876) whose principle work was The Philosophy of Redemption. Hoo, Boy!

"(1) The world begins with the death of God, since God is a principle of unity shattered in the plurality of the world. (2) It is implied that God is also joy, denied in the law of suffering which dominates the world. (3) The original unity and joy persist in the human awareness that nonexistence is better than existence. (4) When humans act on this awareness, refusing to perpetuate themselves, or ending their existence by suicide, they are completing the cycle of redemption."

Bruce's commentary: I guess this philosophy doesn't tend to have long-term advocates since sincere followers wil likely become terminally depressed and kill themselves. How's that for applied philosophy?


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4 comments

30 Jun 2004 @ 13:52 by vibrani : Limited philosophy
and limited understanding, that's the problem with it, Bruce.  

30 Jun 2004 @ 18:52 by jmarc : for Bruce's commentary
to hold true, wouldn't abortion and suicide bombers also have withered on the vine?  

30 Jun 2004 @ 21:08 by bkodish : Aborted fetuses and suicide bombers
According to Mainlander's philosophy, it would be better not to have been born. So an aborted fetus would exemplify the fulfillment of human existence. One does not have to be an absolutist about 'pro-life' to find this strange. A suicide bomber is also fulfilling his role, according to this nihilistic philosophy. And 'helping' others too, by killing them. As I said, "Hoo Boy!"

We humans can talk ourselves into just about anything. Now that's a sobering thought.  

30 Jun 2004 @ 22:02 by vibrani : Some people will do anything
including joining a cult and starving an infant child to death for weeks while the baby screams for food - all because their leader told them God wanted it this way. Yeah, hooo boy.  

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