Immanuel Kant's reductio ad absurdum according to which all rationalism reduces to nihilism pretty much follows that Atheism carried out to its logical end leads to nihilism, meaning that in the grand scheme of nature, life is meaningless. Not meaningless to a person, but, whether the person lives or dies. Meaning cannot be justified.
That is a problem or demomstates a flaw for atheism.
Just a thought!
2006-10-21 07:46:55 · 21 answers · asked by Cogito Sum 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are asking a philosophical question to people who've never read Kant and can't define nihilism. That is why the all the atheist reponses get thumbs up, even when some (JP) are actually nihilists.
Yes, you are right, as was Kant. The state of epistemology in current philosophy is hard nihilism. I suggest reading somehing in Post-Analytic philosophy, especially Richard Rorty. It all carries out the great line from a well known atheist: "Truth is a mobile army of metaphors."
2006-10-21 08:12:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Belief and rationale are never totally compatible. We are people, we think and we feel and different people do these things in different ways. Just as not everyone brought up the same or born in the same place develop into the same person there is randomness in people.
So even if we beleive in what we can prove and what seems rational to us it is still an objective point of view, so you cannot boil anything based on fact or proof comes down to nihilism. This is not only reductionist, it doesn't take into account the idea of human living. People will feel and have ideas and wants and things that they think are good and bad. This won't change with atheism. Atheists are not immoral, we do not go around doing whatever we like jsut for lack of fear of hell. We still live the way we always have, merely we do not use religion to breed hate and difference nor are we throwing ourselves off bridges or locking ourselves in dark rooms because we think our lives are meaningless. It's a matter of perspective. We can make our own meaning, we don't need one handed down by a higher power.
In short, you're being reductionist by following a belief to only one conclusion without consideration for different paths that can be taken.
2006-10-21 07:55:43 · answer #2 · answered by jleslie4585 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To say "that is problem;" doesn't make it so. That you can't face a reality wherein we are just another species speaks tomes about your fears. That's a topic of interest in various social sciences - including psychology & anthropology.
It isn't that "meaning can't be justified," it's just that you place the meaning in the wrong place. In particular you would wish to be more important in the scheme of things than the sciences and our real knowledge indicate. And in that frightened narcissistic state you naturally rail against those that would say: Aside from the effect on those around you, your death will mean exactly (and only) the end of your existence.
The "flaw" or "problem" is not in atheism. It is in the unavoidable conclusions dictated by our knowledge of reality. There is no despair in this concept. We aspire to live productive and moral lives because those are human requirements. We need no mythical incentives of heaven or threats of hell.
2006-10-21 08:09:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I didn't read Kant. I tried but I fell asleep. Do I understand you to say that all rationalism reduces to nihilism? Meaning anything that is purely a matter of reason becomes something that is valueless? Fascinating..
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zzzzzzz
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zzzzzzz
2006-10-21 08:16:28 · answer #4 · answered by anyone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're questioning too demanding. i'm an atheist because i do not position self assurance in any god(s). it is all. Am I nihilistic? not in any respect. life has a number of of meaning, it is received by ability of reports, emotional boom, and so on. Love does have meaning without god. in case you want a god to love, then I truly pity you.
2016-12-05 02:02:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No - life can be very meaningful for someone with no faith. Religion is for people who can't think for themselves, and can't find meaning IN their lives without it. Everyone dies. From the minute you're born, you start dying. Fact of life. It's what you do in the interim that gives your life meaning. So the argument is invalid. I don't need religion to make my life mean something. It's not going to make me live any longer. When you die, you die, and that's the end.
2006-10-21 07:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What's the problem? Why must things have meaning to exist? I happen to agree with you that atheism leads to nihilism, because I happen to be a nihilist.
2006-10-21 07:49:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, you seem to be having a hard time with logic. Not having a purpose does not create any problem for atheists, just for religious people.
2006-10-21 08:01:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's probably the most depressing bunch of bull I've read lately. That Kant guy sounds BORING. I don't believe in God and I love life. Kant is wrong.
2006-10-21 07:57:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My life as a atheist isn't meaningless. I've procreated as well as provided services through my work that benefit the education of children.
2006-10-21 07:54:07 · answer #10 · answered by jedi1josh 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋