Quote:
Originally Posted by ToothSayer
The decline of metaphysics is ultimately linked to the discovery of its inability to create power.
It seems, correct me if I'm wrong though, that you're discounting other people's metaphysical beliefs by appeal to Nietzschean metaphysical beliefs. This is what I've been referring to. People believe we've somehow moved on beyond metaphysics. Rather, we all rely on metaphysical beliefs, whether we know the source of them or not. What we've done is choose our favourites and declare the rest useless, on the basis of practicality. It's a sort of intellectual dogma/echo-chamber.
In the name of pragmatism, and in the name of progress. In the name of the future? I'm born, I live, I die. I don't see any future beyond that? Of what use are pragmatic, practical and future-oriented metaphysical beliefs to me?
We think we're making progress? What progress? In the game of black and white, good and bad, life and death, there is no progress to be made. For these dualities are in fact non-dualities; for good and bad are two sides of the same coin. Eradicate hunger, create brand new problems just as threatening. Remove disease, generate brand new humanitarian crises. Good does not get to win against bad. Bad does not get to win against good. For they are the same thing.
We want the poor Africans to play the same miserable game we play in the first world countries?
Perhaps we really enjoy playing the game of - I am a brave individual that faces the cold hard facts head-on and does not cower from them or invent fantasies to hide from them?
The cold hard facts of - its us against the hostile universe that doesn't want us here. The cold hard facts of - life is suffering so we must strive to reduce this suffering. The cold hard facts of - there are no objectively moral truths we can cling to.
This is all bogus. You may, for all you know, be the universe, experiencing itself. You may, for all you know, come into this framework (world), come out of it, and immediately be in another one, just as elaborate and complex enough to evoke everything that is necessary for your existence (e.g., an evolutionary tree, stars, planets etc.).
How long can you keep believing that life is suffering and that we have an insoluble 'problem of evil' until you search for alternative metaphysics? How long can you continue feeling good by playing the game of - I am a brave individual that faces the cold hard facts head-on. How long can you play this game of self-flattery? How long until it grows tiresome?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ToothSayer
Life at the first level is ultimately about power - getting laid, surviving, getting what you want. Even the most esoteric philosophy comes back at its core to that drive.
It's good that you seemingly acknowledge your own metaphysical beliefs here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ToothSayer
Philosophy and metaphysics were fascinating and intoxicating when the nature of reality was largely unknown.
I'm not aware that the nature of reality has become known? or increasingly known? or that it CAN become known?
What has become known are the numerous elaborate ways by which we can continue to play the game of - living for the future. For what future? One that you're not in? One that doesn't exist, will never exist and has never existed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ToothSayer
I mourn the loss. The power driver for metaphysics created fascinating intellectual worlds. Now we're largely devotees of materialism.
I do too, my friend.
Last edited by VeeDDzz`; 02-17-2017 at 11:19 PM.