Fatalism produces the pernicious concoction of apathy, cynicism, and defeatism. To overcome the demoralization and dehumanization of fatalism we must turn to the humanities and the affirmation of courage, faith in human potentiality, and creativity.
This was a thoroughgoing affirmation of the human spirit as lensed into our shared species-essence. This is the one thing all iconoclasts share: they embody the 'being-aheadedness' that is the futural aspect of resolute being. Even in seemingly bleak literature this ipsissimous faith is affirmed. Surely, if 'religion is society worshipping itself', as Durkheim insightfully noted, then faith is equally, humanity affirming itself. Well done.
Norman Finkelstein is one of the leading scholars on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and in particular as it applies to the people of Gaza. He provides as clear a picture of not only the history of the conflict, but also the current reality of Palestinians living under an Occupation Regime.
In my home and communities we are discussing the intersection of the collapse of the United States with parenting. How do we prepare our children for the uncertainty that they must live through, which will probably exponentially exceed our own? I love the recognition that schooling fails at doing this, even when the students succeed at it.I am appreciating that you connect it to courage.
I would add laughter- to laugh at the situations is evidence of a shine that the oppressive and misleading externalities cannot defeat.
Wilhelm Reich is a thinker we turn to who studied the psychology of authoritarianism. He describes how these cultures have fear of orgasm and release, denying their members the energy of freedom and creativity.
Yes! Laughter is an excellent addition to existential vitality particularly amidst tragic circumstances and to resist defeatism. Laughter implies an unwillingness to numbly resign ourselves to the imposed "fate"; laughter implies agency, scorn, and even resilience
Thank you Dr. Nall, the thing that distinguishes your writings from most philosophy writers, is that it's linked to the here and now, which makes it relevant and not only abstract. My guess is that most of the writers who write about philosophy and ethics in a generic and neutral way, are just afraid to lose subscribers.
I see the idea of Fatalism as being yet another human construct to maintain power. -And plenty of persons not in power have given allegiance to that idea, keeping them in subservience. We are watching that happen in the world now. I am astonished that so many persons would so easily delude themselves and readily give up their freedom. I do not believe in fate; I just watch what human beings do to one another. Thanks for your courage.
How do? Give us your reasoning. As you may know, one has to describe the image the AI will generate. Would there have been a conflict had I simply found in existing piece of art that expressed the concept? Would it only have not been thematically consistent if I had drawn it myself? Perhaps most fundamentally, how does the deployment of the image relate to the thesis of my piece, as you see it?
A great follow up question. The objective of the article is to dispel the irrational turn to fatalism that prevents people from finding one another and joining community and movements.
And yet how exciting it was to have the agency to let the balloon go [into the sea, perhaps, or into the sky].
This was a thoroughgoing affirmation of the human spirit as lensed into our shared species-essence. This is the one thing all iconoclasts share: they embody the 'being-aheadedness' that is the futural aspect of resolute being. Even in seemingly bleak literature this ipsissimous faith is affirmed. Surely, if 'religion is society worshipping itself', as Durkheim insightfully noted, then faith is equally, humanity affirming itself. Well done.
"Faith is... humanity affirming itself." Thank you for reading and sharing your beautifully expressed addendum.
Norman Finkelstein is one of the leading scholars on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and in particular as it applies to the people of Gaza. He provides as clear a picture of not only the history of the conflict, but also the current reality of Palestinians living under an Occupation Regime.
I fully agree. He has taught so many of us so much.
Love it Dr. Nall
In my home and communities we are discussing the intersection of the collapse of the United States with parenting. How do we prepare our children for the uncertainty that they must live through, which will probably exponentially exceed our own? I love the recognition that schooling fails at doing this, even when the students succeed at it.I am appreciating that you connect it to courage.
I would add laughter- to laugh at the situations is evidence of a shine that the oppressive and misleading externalities cannot defeat.
Wilhelm Reich is a thinker we turn to who studied the psychology of authoritarianism. He describes how these cultures have fear of orgasm and release, denying their members the energy of freedom and creativity.
Yes! Laughter is an excellent addition to existential vitality particularly amidst tragic circumstances and to resist defeatism. Laughter implies an unwillingness to numbly resign ourselves to the imposed "fate"; laughter implies agency, scorn, and even resilience
Thank you Dr. Nall, the thing that distinguishes your writings from most philosophy writers, is that it's linked to the here and now, which makes it relevant and not only abstract. My guess is that most of the writers who write about philosophy and ethics in a generic and neutral way, are just afraid to lose subscribers.
I see the idea of Fatalism as being yet another human construct to maintain power. -And plenty of persons not in power have given allegiance to that idea, keeping them in subservience. We are watching that happen in the world now. I am astonished that so many persons would so easily delude themselves and readily give up their freedom. I do not believe in fate; I just watch what human beings do to one another. Thanks for your courage.
Beautifully expressed. Thanks for reading and sharing.
"Don't resign to the powers that be"....
... *generates AI image*
That's some real cognitive dissociation there.
How do? Give us your reasoning. As you may know, one has to describe the image the AI will generate. Would there have been a conflict had I simply found in existing piece of art that expressed the concept? Would it only have not been thematically consistent if I had drawn it myself? Perhaps most fundamentally, how does the deployment of the image relate to the thesis of my piece, as you see it?
My thought is so is this a call to action?
How do we connect, communicate, and create a new path to overcome this current oppression as more than individuals?
A great follow up question. The objective of the article is to dispel the irrational turn to fatalism that prevents people from finding one another and joining community and movements.