redstar2000
11th May 2004, 04:56
The Anarchist Tension asked me to critique this website...or at least its opening statement.
Nihilism Defined (http://www.counterorder.com/nihilism.html)
Insofar as it is a defense of critical thinking about everything, I have no disagreement. We ought to reject faith and demand evidence and rational arguments for every proposition.
Beyond this commonplace (not common enough!) matters become murkier...
The second element nihilism rejects is the belief in final purpose, that the universe is built upon non-random events and that everything is structured towards an eventual conclusive revelation.
That's a tougher proposition -- partly because of the "loaded" terminology.
The universe is certainly random down at the quantum level...at least we've never been able to locate that definitive "cause and effect" that Einstein searched for in vain.
On the other hand, up at the cosmological level (again as far as we can tell), galaxies are not randomly distributed throughout the universe but instead are grouped in clusters, super-clusters (clusters of clusters), and even enormous "sheets" or "walls" of super-clusters...with vast empty spaces between. There is some kind of "order" there...though we don't (yet) know why.
Indeed, some have suggested that "order" randomly arises from the prevailing disorder.
Of course, that doesn't imply any kind of "eventual conclusive revelation". As far as we now know, the last stars will burn out in 100 billion years or so and all that will be left are black holes and wondering sub-atomic particles. Since Hawking demonstrated that even black holes eventually "evaporate", the remainder of "eternity" will eventually be nothing but randomly wondering sub-atomic particles, period.
Will or even can a "new order" arise from that? No one has even the faintest idea.
But the temporary order that does seem to "pop up" in the universe as it is now offers a "credible substitute" for "eternal and final purpose".
This is called teleology and it's the fatal flaw plaguing the whole rainbow of false solutions from Marxism to Buddhism and everything in between. Teleology compels obedience towards the fulfillment of "destiny" or "progress" or similar such grandiose goals. Teleology is used by despots and utopian dreamers alike as a coercive motivation leading only to yet another apocryphal apocalypse; the real way to lead humanity by the nose - tell them it's all part of the big plan so play along or else!
Yes, that's generally how it works, but is that "inevitable"?
There was certainly a time when the Leninist variant of "Marxism" based much of its appeal on "hitching a ride on history's locomotive"...especially when coupled with a vision of "communism" that resembled "Heaven" more than any earthly human society.
I think it could be reasonably argued that there are historical "regularities" (non-random events) that point towards the end of class society -- without suggesting that communism is "the eventual conclusive revelation" of human history.
Consider that the human species is around 150,000 years old. We've only been writing stuff down for the last 5,000 years. We've only been writing stuff down that made any sense for the last 500 years. And the average life-span of mammalian species is currently estimated at 8 million years.
I think it's safe to say that it's too soon to tell what the "eventual conclusive revelation" (if any) of human history will be.
Words used to describe political nihilism include - active, revolutionary, destructive and even creative. Political nihilism is defined as the realization "that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility."
Brave words, indeed.
The reality is a bit more sobering. When one undertakes a work of destruction, bad things are going to happen. People will be hurt, feel pain, perhaps be crippled or even killed.
If you do this "without purpose", you are not going to feel very good about yourself...especially if you're close enough to get splattered by the gore.
It's customary to regard those who kill "without purpose" as sociopaths...and if we catch one, we execute him.
Political nihilism especially is a world-view that's rational, logical, empirical, scientific and devoid of pointless, extraneous emotion.
Except one: unlimited hatred for "things as they are". The nihilist who embraces destruction without regard for alternatives to the existing order has, in fact, abandoned rationality, logic, empiricism, and science...in favor of raw hatred.
There is much of "things as they are" that is fully worthy of hatred, no question about it. But without guidance of some alternative (no matter how implausible), destruction becomes a "quantum event"...no different from a bolt of lightning and no more damaging to the social order.
The Russian nihilists -- the most "political" of such groups ever to exist -- in fact did have a purpose. They thought that the assassination of the Czar and his prominent officials would "de-stabilize" the autocracy and eventually bring it down. It didn't work...though it may have helped in a small way.
Both modern nihilists and anarchists can trace roots to the intense personality of Mikhael Bakunin in the 19th century who succinctly reflected the nihilist sentiment with his famous statement: "Let us put our trust in the eternal spirit which destroys and annihilates only because it is the unsearchable and eternally creative source of all."
The site does not date this rather mystical quote; I would assume it is from Bakunin's youth rather than his maturity.
But it certainly does have a "nihilist flavor" -- I think the modern abbreviation is something like "Destruction is a creative urge".
Whenever I torment the godsuckers on this board with graphic images of their precious and holy cathedrals falling to the wrecking ball, I'm doing the same thing...borrowing a nihilist vision as a symbol of creating a world without superstition.
I suspect that almost every idea for changing the world has a nihilist "sub-text" that is more or less explicit.
But a "sub-text" is "subordinate", not dominant. The purpose of destroying the old is to create the new...not simply to leave a landscape of ruin.
In fact, I think the modern political tendency that's closest to the original nihilist spirit is Nazism. I'm thinking of Hitler and his architect Speer, planning their massive post-war building programs and saying to each other "what magnificent ruins" their structures would eventually become. The point of building on a grand scale was really to create "magnificent ruins".
And then there was Goebbels: "When I hear the word culture, I reach for my revolver." Or, "Yes, we are barbarians." Or, "The year 1789 is hereby repealed."
Indeed, Hitler's final orders (not carried out) before his suicide were to destroy what was left of Germany's civilized infrastructure...to leave even greater desolation than had resulted from the Anglo-American terror-bombing of Germany's cities.
Could any consistent nihilist have wished for more?
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif
Nihilism Defined (http://www.counterorder.com/nihilism.html)
Insofar as it is a defense of critical thinking about everything, I have no disagreement. We ought to reject faith and demand evidence and rational arguments for every proposition.
Beyond this commonplace (not common enough!) matters become murkier...
The second element nihilism rejects is the belief in final purpose, that the universe is built upon non-random events and that everything is structured towards an eventual conclusive revelation.
That's a tougher proposition -- partly because of the "loaded" terminology.
The universe is certainly random down at the quantum level...at least we've never been able to locate that definitive "cause and effect" that Einstein searched for in vain.
On the other hand, up at the cosmological level (again as far as we can tell), galaxies are not randomly distributed throughout the universe but instead are grouped in clusters, super-clusters (clusters of clusters), and even enormous "sheets" or "walls" of super-clusters...with vast empty spaces between. There is some kind of "order" there...though we don't (yet) know why.
Indeed, some have suggested that "order" randomly arises from the prevailing disorder.
Of course, that doesn't imply any kind of "eventual conclusive revelation". As far as we now know, the last stars will burn out in 100 billion years or so and all that will be left are black holes and wondering sub-atomic particles. Since Hawking demonstrated that even black holes eventually "evaporate", the remainder of "eternity" will eventually be nothing but randomly wondering sub-atomic particles, period.
Will or even can a "new order" arise from that? No one has even the faintest idea.
But the temporary order that does seem to "pop up" in the universe as it is now offers a "credible substitute" for "eternal and final purpose".
This is called teleology and it's the fatal flaw plaguing the whole rainbow of false solutions from Marxism to Buddhism and everything in between. Teleology compels obedience towards the fulfillment of "destiny" or "progress" or similar such grandiose goals. Teleology is used by despots and utopian dreamers alike as a coercive motivation leading only to yet another apocryphal apocalypse; the real way to lead humanity by the nose - tell them it's all part of the big plan so play along or else!
Yes, that's generally how it works, but is that "inevitable"?
There was certainly a time when the Leninist variant of "Marxism" based much of its appeal on "hitching a ride on history's locomotive"...especially when coupled with a vision of "communism" that resembled "Heaven" more than any earthly human society.
I think it could be reasonably argued that there are historical "regularities" (non-random events) that point towards the end of class society -- without suggesting that communism is "the eventual conclusive revelation" of human history.
Consider that the human species is around 150,000 years old. We've only been writing stuff down for the last 5,000 years. We've only been writing stuff down that made any sense for the last 500 years. And the average life-span of mammalian species is currently estimated at 8 million years.
I think it's safe to say that it's too soon to tell what the "eventual conclusive revelation" (if any) of human history will be.
Words used to describe political nihilism include - active, revolutionary, destructive and even creative. Political nihilism is defined as the realization "that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility."
Brave words, indeed.
The reality is a bit more sobering. When one undertakes a work of destruction, bad things are going to happen. People will be hurt, feel pain, perhaps be crippled or even killed.
If you do this "without purpose", you are not going to feel very good about yourself...especially if you're close enough to get splattered by the gore.
It's customary to regard those who kill "without purpose" as sociopaths...and if we catch one, we execute him.
Political nihilism especially is a world-view that's rational, logical, empirical, scientific and devoid of pointless, extraneous emotion.
Except one: unlimited hatred for "things as they are". The nihilist who embraces destruction without regard for alternatives to the existing order has, in fact, abandoned rationality, logic, empiricism, and science...in favor of raw hatred.
There is much of "things as they are" that is fully worthy of hatred, no question about it. But without guidance of some alternative (no matter how implausible), destruction becomes a "quantum event"...no different from a bolt of lightning and no more damaging to the social order.
The Russian nihilists -- the most "political" of such groups ever to exist -- in fact did have a purpose. They thought that the assassination of the Czar and his prominent officials would "de-stabilize" the autocracy and eventually bring it down. It didn't work...though it may have helped in a small way.
Both modern nihilists and anarchists can trace roots to the intense personality of Mikhael Bakunin in the 19th century who succinctly reflected the nihilist sentiment with his famous statement: "Let us put our trust in the eternal spirit which destroys and annihilates only because it is the unsearchable and eternally creative source of all."
The site does not date this rather mystical quote; I would assume it is from Bakunin's youth rather than his maturity.
But it certainly does have a "nihilist flavor" -- I think the modern abbreviation is something like "Destruction is a creative urge".
Whenever I torment the godsuckers on this board with graphic images of their precious and holy cathedrals falling to the wrecking ball, I'm doing the same thing...borrowing a nihilist vision as a symbol of creating a world without superstition.
I suspect that almost every idea for changing the world has a nihilist "sub-text" that is more or less explicit.
But a "sub-text" is "subordinate", not dominant. The purpose of destroying the old is to create the new...not simply to leave a landscape of ruin.
In fact, I think the modern political tendency that's closest to the original nihilist spirit is Nazism. I'm thinking of Hitler and his architect Speer, planning their massive post-war building programs and saying to each other "what magnificent ruins" their structures would eventually become. The point of building on a grand scale was really to create "magnificent ruins".
And then there was Goebbels: "When I hear the word culture, I reach for my revolver." Or, "Yes, we are barbarians." Or, "The year 1789 is hereby repealed."
Indeed, Hitler's final orders (not carried out) before his suicide were to destroy what was left of Germany's civilized infrastructure...to leave even greater desolation than had resulted from the Anglo-American terror-bombing of Germany's cities.
Could any consistent nihilist have wished for more?
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif