++> Continuing exchange between Frank Masingill
 ++> and David Martorana in sorting out views of
 ++> the "NIHIL"
 
 FM> I continue to see the nihil as an ever present possibility for
 FM> society even in the dim past when the intra-cosmic gods were the
 FM> symbols of divinity and human order could break down again and
 FM> again as it did in important aspects of the 18th century
 FM> enlightenment with its special symbol, "pessimism."
 
 FM> I know you dislike "historical samples" so citing the situations
 FM> facing those in 3rd millenium Ancient Egypt that gave rise to
 FM> "Song of the Harper" and "Dispute of a Man Who Contemplates
 FM> Suicide With His Soul" and similar literature of the breakdown
 FM> circa the First Intermediate Period.  We have similar moods
 FM> developing from Homer to Hesiod and expressed so well by the
 FM> latter and later in the attempt at restoration of some confidence
 FM> of man in his humanity by Plato and Aristotle, the pneumatic
 FM> prophets of Israel culminating in the challenge of the Christian
 FM> theophany to the senselessness of ecumenic conquest and death
 FM> will make no impression on you.
 
   I am NOT against "historical samples" if they illuminate an area of
   exploration, but You envelope our topic into historical fragments
   that have no more insight into the NIHIL than we do. I had not at
   the beginning the motivation to belabor it, just to search and
   inquire an area so often kept as a kooky aunt in the attic. I had
   hoped (if possible) to expand the topic into that darkness on the
   other side of knowing ....that grand NIHIL.
 
 FM> in the dim past when the intra-cosmic gods were the symbols of
 FM> divinity and human order could break down again and again as it
 FM> did in important aspects of the 18th century enlightenment with its
 FM> special symbol, "pessimism."
 
     I would have hoped to examine the topic within its own structure
     without my trying to sell it as a popular notion.    I might add
     though that subtracting out the "pessimism periods" doesn't
     seem to package that much optimism (I'm sure we can both come up
     with a +/- listings).
 
 FM> I was attempting to reveal the essence of nihilism, not to talk
 FM> you out of it.  If, as you seem to believe quite firmly, there
 FM> is in the immense welter of opinions floating around in the
 FM> "climate of opinion" (Whitehead) of modernity some one of them
 FM> that holds THE truth to emerge victorious over all of the others
 FM> I can only express the hope that against the reality "I" see in
 FM> history that perhaps you will find that "pot of gold at the end
 FM> of the rainbow."  I surely would not wish to deprive you of it.
 
 The essence of "my" nihilism is expansive ....a learning desert!
 It foresees  a wide range of exploratory implications.  Whether I'm
 talked into or out of it has no meaning to me. I expect no truth
 to emerge victorious. How you translate my inquiries of the
 "nothing" into a "pot of gold" eludes me. I believe I have badly
 expressed myself to have gendered such responses. .......pardon'?
 
 FM> I really do have nothing to sell.  I hope to remain a philosopher
 FM> with questions to ask - questions that are far more important to
 FM> frame than the various "answers" that dominate the scene. Perhaps
 FM> it is puzzling that I am really not SEEKING for any of those.  I
 FM> fancy that I've reviewed most of the important ones already. I
 FM> freely disclose and have disclosed all along my helpers and mentors
 FM> in the search.  At the moment I am rediscovering William James and
 FM> even reviewing my notes on Bergson. My most important game is one
 FM> I play with myself.
 
   I do not question you as a salesman, and believe we both see you as
   philosopher. I am not puzzled at your motivations and am very aware
   that you note your sources.     I see you a serious searcher and am
   at a lose at your defense. I can only repeat, your responses indicate
   that it was my presentations that were at fault, if anything. I would
   examine carefully all you've said and try to correlate an understanding
   that might attempt justice to both our positions which you seem to have
   conveniently simplified down to positive and negative historicals.
   I had thought of a "more" on the topic but have become bogged down
   within your Platonic (most reasonable) containments ....and have, or
   soon will be, mumbling and repeating. I think there are some areas
   of quest that are not easily shared........
 
                          _-
                         ,0o , ... Dave
                         |
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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