I recently had a conversation with a friend almost exactly along these lines - about his climate pessimism as an explanation for choices. He had previously expressed that he fundamentally believes that only a select few who are born into power have the means to change things.
I mostly listened and, after a few days, my frustration with his attitude settled into thoughts that are almost exactly outlined by the arguments of this piece.
I think reading can be a morphed version of conversation and I am glad I got to continue that conversation by engaging with this writing.
Breanna, thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts - conversations like the one you're describing are some of the most important ways that we can combat nihilism and pessimism, as community is often where we build hope. Happy to have you here!
I like to remind myself that incremental progress is still progress: 1.7 C of warming is better than 1.8 C of warming because each marginal gain translates to lives saved or lives made better in some way. It's not just fail completely or win everything: every small step forward is important.
I loved reading this. And you have inspired several articles for me to write. Nihilism has been a topic since Buddhism. What we simply need is compassion and wisdom. Compassion first for our own self and the will to relieve our suffering. Wisdom guides us to say it is our attachments to things and ideas that create these problems. Everything is a story we can change. Because we are all connected by the same wonderful creative cosmic energy that is never destroyed constantly changing.
Yes, thank you so much for sharing this perspective. One of the things we're up against is that we have lots of knowledge, but a lack of wisdom. Spiritual practice is such an important part of that process. Thanks for reading!
I recently had a conversation with a friend almost exactly along these lines - about his climate pessimism as an explanation for choices. He had previously expressed that he fundamentally believes that only a select few who are born into power have the means to change things.
I mostly listened and, after a few days, my frustration with his attitude settled into thoughts that are almost exactly outlined by the arguments of this piece.
I think reading can be a morphed version of conversation and I am glad I got to continue that conversation by engaging with this writing.
Breanna, thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts - conversations like the one you're describing are some of the most important ways that we can combat nihilism and pessimism, as community is often where we build hope. Happy to have you here!
I like to remind myself that incremental progress is still progress: 1.7 C of warming is better than 1.8 C of warming because each marginal gain translates to lives saved or lives made better in some way. It's not just fail completely or win everything: every small step forward is important.
I loved reading this. And you have inspired several articles for me to write. Nihilism has been a topic since Buddhism. What we simply need is compassion and wisdom. Compassion first for our own self and the will to relieve our suffering. Wisdom guides us to say it is our attachments to things and ideas that create these problems. Everything is a story we can change. Because we are all connected by the same wonderful creative cosmic energy that is never destroyed constantly changing.
Yes, thank you so much for sharing this perspective. One of the things we're up against is that we have lots of knowledge, but a lack of wisdom. Spiritual practice is such an important part of that process. Thanks for reading!