Apathy Vol. 5
Nihilism and the Human Psyche: Exploring Empathy Amidst Disconnection
As January 2024 unfurls, humanity seems an unchanged constant, enduring through millennia yet persisting in its intrinsic ways.
Riding home one day, I encountered a lone dog in a field, gazing intently at something. In that moment, I humanized the canine, a reflex often observed since childhood. We tend to anthropomorphize animals, picturing them in familiar human settings – a social media post featuring animated animals engaged in everyday activities springs to mind.
Despite this innate ability to empathize with beings around us, it's perplexing how we, as a species, are complicit in the destruction of nature, the extinction of animals, deforestation, and unspeakable acts against our own kind.
Could nihilism and capitalism offer a clue? Nihilistic thought finds its roots in the late 19th century, notably explored by Friedrich Nietzsche. Originating as a philosophical skepticism questioning the validity of traditional values, nihilism gained traction, especially in the aftermath of World War I. The disillusionment and devastation of the war era fostered a cultural shift, leaving many disenchanted with societal norms and meaning, influencing literature, arts, and societal behavior.
Insights from Psychology:
Psychology delves into the complexities of human behavior, shedding light on how our pursuit of power and pleasure often steers us away from empathy. It emphasizes the role of conditioning, societal pressures, and individual psychology in shaping our choices. The very structures that once bound us together now seem to unravel as our focus shifts solely to personal gains and comfort.
Yuval Noah Harari encapsulates this shift well: "Modern Culture rejects meaning in place of power."
This pursuit of power manifests primarily as growth—measured in monetary terms. In this pursuit, we inadvertently embrace nihilistic philosophies, discarding moral and religious principles. Our existence becomes an endeavor to extract maximum pleasure, distancing ourselves from others and focusing solely on personal comfort.
As we contemplate the human condition, let's heed the words of Albert Camus:
"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
