Ask Raskolnikov

[Raskolnikov 808]

Questions pertaining to my sanity are to be lined up here

 

[ComanderZhabikKlavik 4,066]

What do you think about the philosophy of absurdism and antinatalism?

[Raskolnikov 808]

On 2025-06-08 at 3:41 PM, ComanderZhabikKlavik said:

What do you think about the philosophy of absurdism and antinatalism?

I hadn't known much about absurdism actually! I looked it up and, is it basically from my understanding the belief that life is ultimately meaningless and our need for meaning causes 'absurd' tension with the reality of that lack of objective meaning? And that it's better to embrace this lack of meaning and live well anyway as a fuck you? If so, it makes sense to me. I've considered myself a nihilist in the sense that I think life has no objective meaning, but I never interpreted that in a necessarily negative sense - it is what it is and you can craft your own subjective meaning. So absurdism sounds reasonable to me.

I looked up Albert Camus. Interesting guy to be sure.

As for antinatalism, I was one before I even knew the definition of it (I think I found out about it at 13-14 years old?), and I've only grown more into the position over time the more awful parenting I see creating more and more broken people who then go out in the world and cause more harm... Certainly in this time I think we should be fixing a lot in our world before we bring our children into it and making them inherit our mess. In a kinder world I may reconsider my position.

[ComanderZhabikKlavik 4,066]

What philosophy do you adhere to and who are your favorite philosophers?

[Raskolnikov 808]

2 hours ago, ComanderZhabikKlavik said:

What philosophy do you adhere to and who are your favorite philosophers?

I don't STRICTLY go by a single philosophy - I believe flexibility is best as I think adhering to a rigid way of thinking is too dogmatic and restrictive. However I have always admired Diogenes - I remember peeking through one of my Ancient Greek Philosophy textbooks (that were never used in class! too underfunded, lol) just to read about Cynicism. His refusal to adhere to social norms, his shocking ways of calling out of bullshit and hypocrisy, his simplistic lifestyle, his identification as a "cosmopolite" - it spoke to me so much, I actually changed my user title on a forum to "The Cynic" for a time :] you could even say Cynicism was my first dipping into anarchism as a worldview, before I turned into one in my early 20's.

Otherwise, I don't view anarchism as just an ideology, but also a philosophy - and it reflects how I approach other people, myself, and the world. I overlook statuses, whether it's someone in legal authority (e.g. cop, politician), educational authority (e.g. teachers, self-proclaimed experts - I am not in any way anti-science, but some individuals enjoy manipulating science for their own self gain - in fact I consider THEM anti-science when they do such things as I highly value the pursuit of truth!), someone of significant social status (e.g. celebrities), spiritual authority (e.g. the Pope, the Orthodox Patriarchate...), familial authority (e.g. blood relatives, parents) and so on - I make sure to ALWAYS question them and never treat them as anything special and avoid idolising anyone as we are all human beings with flaws and they are not above anyone else. Not even to be antagonistic, it's just a healthy habit to think for yourself. Even with ideologues I agree with, I try to look at their personal history and see if their words match their actions, and I try to see the human in them and not just what they're famous for. I believe in taking full control of one's life and destiny and being your own master rather than having anyone hovering over you setting it for you, and I view those trying to cruelly exert power over others as fearful and pitiful children. I'm not free of authoritarian tendencies in myself, either, and I try to be aware of them and challenge them.

Ultimately - I believe in authenticity and that all symbols of authority, fame, or wealth get in the way of genuine connection with others, and I believe in genuine connection and cooperation as equals. So you can say I believe I 'follow' bits and pieces from cynicism, anarchism, nihilism, maybe even some forms of atheistic satanism?

Maybe not a classical philosopher as you may expect, but I find myself rather fond of Emma Goldman - and that respect comes from her actions matching her beliefs, sometimes standing alone on some issues even against her own comrades. I admire that quality. She had a rough childhood and instead of it making her cruel or authoritarian, it gave her a fierce sense of justice. Her writing/speaking style is also full of life rather than cold, distant and academic, and I prefer that over a thinker who is afraid to show passion or emotion.

Edited June 10 by Raskolnikov
sorry if this is hard to read I'm on mobile and edit sentences a lot midway and sometimes don't notice when I forgot to fix a sentence lol