Can we desire death? (Part 4 of 'The Meaning of Life' series)
No one can actually imagine their own death.
But then why are people grieved by the prospect of their own death? The answer is that they are only imagining their work forgotten, their traces on this world wiped out, their wealth dispersed, their ability to affect change taken away, the world proceeding in complete indifference, and so on. Essentially, a person can only imagine himself as a ghost; but not dead. It is the prospect of becoming a “ghost” (of becoming irrelevant, completely powerless) that really scares people, not the prospect of a death they cannot even conceive.
The connection to nihilism
I have said in earlier articles (1, 2, 3) that I see no evidence of nihilism anywhere, and that as far as I know it is sheer fiction. Real-life examples of nihilism are simply lacking. But then what about the people who have committed suicide? Did they not have death as a strong temporary goal? During those last moments just before they killed themselves, were they not without values? Did they not exist, in those brief moments, in a state of nihilism? Perhaps nihilism is not to be encountered frequently but, as suicides prove, it is by no means impossible?
This argument falls quickly if one cites the impossibility of aiming for one’s own death. As I have said above, it is impossible to even imagine, much less desire, one’s own death.
Secondly, deciding that life is not worth living, and therefore that one should commit suicide, is just another form of valuation, a preference. A person who has preferences is not a nihilist.
Thirdly, if someone has decided that nothing matters and that everything is meaningless, it follows that suicide does not matter and that suicide is meaningless — more generally, if it is true that nothing really matters, then the fact that nothing really matters does not matter either — so I cannot see why the nihilist would choose death over life, or life over death. As with every decision the nihilist makes, the same dilemma arises: Why this and not that? Why that and not the other? Why suicide and not life? Why life and not suicide? Since every decision is equally consistent with the nihilist viewpoint, it follows that no decisions can be made, since there is no basis on which to choose this over that, or that over the other. Every action must then be viewed as pure coincidence, or the result of instinct. In the first case, that of coincidence, we are then talking of events, not actions. Regarding the second case, that of instinct, I already gave my analysis. Therefore both answers must be rejected.
The argument from suicide, then, can be effectively countered. It really is impossible to want to die!
I leave you with a phone pic of entry 786, p. 282, from The Meaning of Life:
It sounds like you're saying that pure nihilism is actually impossible, as there are always competing desires and motivations at play within. So, one can never truly abandon moral principles when making a decision. Maybe the most one could be is a "casual nihilist" - one who sets themselves against the norms and values of culture and society, putting them fiercely at odds with others. Yet, they still follow their own principles and values as it is impossible to live a value-less life.
I think of the writer of Ecclesiastes who can repeat over and over again, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" (a nihilistic or deconstructionist perspective) yet the writer then spends a large amount of time seeking out that which is meaningful. In other words, the search for meaning and truth is itself a value, and the author considers this pursuit meaningful. (Thus, they have undermined their own nihilism.)
I still need to think on this more as it relates to death. But good thoughts here!
Yup!
Yeah exactly. A sort of anarchist, let's say. A rebel. An existentialist. A frustrated Cioran- or Bukowski-type person.
I love Ecclesiastes! Probably my favorite book of the Bible. And I find it annoying that, though the author didn't really receive any substantive answer to any of his deep questions, still he was satisfied at the end.
And thanks for your comments!
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People do commit suicide, though. So what is the explanation for when they do it?
Forgive me but I can't hear about Nihilism without thinking of The Big Lebowski!
There's scarcely a movie by the Coen brothers that I don't like, but The Big Lebowski is 3 thumbs up!
The answer to your question is in the first section and in the last picture.
But let me try again: It's impossible to aim for death the same way it's impossible to aim for a dartboard you can't see. Does that mean you can't hit the dartboard? No: it's entirely possible to hit it without aiming for it.
Another metaphor: Mammals, other than humans, do not aim to spread their DNA, and yet they do it. Their aim is sex (pleasure), but the result is the spreading of their DNA. Similarly, people can't aim to die, and yet they do it. Their aim is to stop the pain (or whatever), but the result is that they cease to exist.
How this connects to nihilism:
A nihilist (according to my strict definition) is someone who doesn't have any values. In another entry, I write:
Think of a value as an investment, or a bet. If you can't lose, the word 'bet' is emptied of meaning. If you value a person but don't care when he dies, we may question your assertion that you valued him.
In other words, values make suicide possible. Suicide is simply 'loss' or 'bankruptcy'. You hold certain values that life does not favor (you may imagine any hellish scenario you like - the point is that everything around you opposes your values). So you commit suicide. That doesn't mean you were a nihilist (the only way for you to commit suicide is if you have values), and it doesn't mean you aimed to die (you merely aimed to stop the pain, but the result was death, just like a teen merely aimed to get pleasure, but the result was pregnancy).
Sorry for using silly examples like these, but I can't seem to find another way to express these thoughts! Hope you're not more confused than when you started!
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. It does a lot to clarify your argument.
Did you ever see True Detectives? In Season 1, McConaughey's character seems to embody what you're talking about. Sorrow has made him such a nihilist (loosely speaking) that he doesn't have the courage for suicide (as he admits). But of course something keeps him going until the end of the season, and it turns out he's not really a nihilist at all.
True Detective, singular! I remember cos I just finished it yesterday! Lol! @varnavas recommended it!
And thank you for reading and commenting Winston!
Funny coincidence! Did you watch the second season? I just couldn't get into it. A shame after the first one was so well done.
No @varnavas told me the rest is shit so I didn't!
confirmed)
If you are interested in another answer: people commit suicide because of despair and depression. They cannot live any further with their pains, a mixture of physical and mental pain.
It's simple as that, I find. But I strongly guess you know that already.
Worthiness is only a conception of our mind. In reality there is no any worth)
As far as nothing has meaning you can do anything you want without any limits because any kind of action has equal worth and meaning = 0. Nothing good, nothing bad! Do anything or even don't do.
P.s
He was a pretty bastard but he preferred to call himself a nihilist)))