Nihilism is not just a tacit phenomenon. By tacit I mean, in the widest sense, people covering up the meaninglessness of their existence, filling it with things that mean nothing to them, BUT, crucially, not addressing the problem. It is 'incomplete' nihilism, and it is everywhere. It is best seen when people passively or half-heartedly attach themselves to worldly doctrines that still claim absolute grounds, such as socialism, the most perfect form of which allows everybody to enjoy the fruits of the earth equally--equality is elevated beyond the worldly, 'sensory' realm, to the 'suprasensory', transcendent realm at which all of humanity can fix their gaze and agree that such an arrangement is best.
But nihilism is actually put on display, i.e. expressed explicitly, in pop culture. Consider the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. There is of course the lyric "carry on, as if nothing really matters" that breathes nihilism: a world without meaning, an accidental humanity, a lack of responsibility.
Then the "I dont wanna die, sometimes I wish I'd never been born at all" lyric. Typical nihilistic stance. No care for the wonder of the world. No joy extracted from living itself.
Then there's the school of thought that says that Queen's song ironically plays on the nihilistic culture that they found themselves in when they wrote the song. They are laughing at us, mocking the "poor boys whom nobody loves" and for whom "nothing really matters." It is after all not a sentimental song. We don't feel sorry for the poor boy. It is usually celebrated wherever it is played. Everybody knows it. It's become an anthem to a culture, a nihilistic culture.
why are you going about life accusing people of living meaninglessly? isn't that pursuit, exposing people's meaningless lives, also nihilism? what is nihilism anyway?
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of that film about the Nazis deciding on the final solution at a lavish hotel, I forget the name. Anyway, towards the end, when their plan has been decided and people have been designated roles in the operation, a more moderate participant in the conference (Wansee was the name, just outside of Berlin) recalls a story about a man who dedicates his life to hating his father, yet when his father dies, the man is broken, without direction. The same is true of the Nazis, we are given to assume. Their pursuit of the Jews was singleminded, yes, and they surely had other aims in their rule (world domination). But the point is that you ought not dedicate your life to cutting others down--because that pursuit alone becomes your goal, and other, more important things, more meaningful things in life get eclipsed. Thanks.