0
Jackson6612 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Nihilism: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are...
nihilism
1 a: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a : a doctrine or belief 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 b capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination
M-W Col. Dic.
Q1:
If traditional values and beliefs are groundless they can be replaced be with new ones. But, what can one do when existence is viewed as senseless and useless? Should one simply finish oneself to find some meaningful and useful existence in some new world?
Q2:
'...traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless...'.
Any sane person would agree that murdering someone is an illegal and barbarous act. But, what when one starts considering such an act legal and morally okay? Charles Mason who mercilessly murdered Sharon Tate has never regretted his criminal act. To him, it was okay to murder others. You can judge the insanity of the person by his quote, "Believe me, if I started murdering people... there'd be none of you left!"
Q3:
'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'.
I don't get this part. What 'conditions' are under discussion and why are they bad? Perhaps, the underlined part means they are so bad that they will collapse on themselves without any contribution from some external agency.
It will be very kind of you if you can help me with the text above. Thank you very much.
1 a: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a : a doctrine or belief 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 b capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination
M-W Col. Dic.
Q1:
If traditional values and beliefs are groundless they can be replaced be with new ones. But, what can one do when existence is viewed as senseless and useless? Should one simply finish oneself to find some meaningful and useful existence in some new world?
Q2:
'...traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless...'.
Any sane person would agree that murdering someone is an illegal and barbarous act. But, what when one starts considering such an act legal and morally okay? Charles Mason who mercilessly murdered Sharon Tate has never regretted his criminal act. To him, it was okay to murder others. You can judge the insanity of the person by his quote, "Believe me, if I started murdering people... there'd be none of you left!"
Q3:
'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'.
I don't get this part. What 'conditions' are under discussion and why are they bad? Perhaps, the underlined part means they are so bad that they will collapse on themselves without any contribution from some external agency.
It will be very kind of you if you can help me with the text above. Thank you very much.
Top answer
'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 '. " Normally, when you advocate overthrow, you have something in mind to replace it. (destruction, followed by a constructive program) Q3 asks if something could be so bad that it should be destroyed, even with nothing in mind to replace it.
- '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 '.
- " Normally, when you advocate overthrow, you have something in mind to replace it.
- (destruction, followed by a constructive program) Q3 asks if something could be so bad that it should be destroyed, even with nothing in mind to replace it.
- )
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
'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'.
I assume "destruction" means "destruction of the social organization."
Normally, when you advocate overthrow, you
I assume "destruction" means "destruction of the social organization."
Normally, when you advocate overthrow, you
00
Sorry, timed out.
Make that, "something in mind to replace that which you wish to overthrow."
Make that, "something in mind to replace that which you wish to overthrow."
00
Hi Avangi
Wouldn't you like to give statement of your opinion on the points raised in Q1 and Q2?
Wouldn't you like to give statement of your opinion on the points raised in Q1 and Q2?
00
Jackson6612Hi AvangiWouldn't you like to give statement of your opinion on the points raised in Q1 and Q2?Perhaps over a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Sorry, I took your original question as concerning the underscored text.
0
Related Questions