/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.12111593]

Modern life is unfulfilling /lit/.
I believe this is due to modern man's obsession for prolonging their natural lifespan through modern medicine, cults of self improvement (health, exercise, and diet), and psychiatric medication (depression/anxiety medication). As opposed to prioritizing the pursuit of meaning, purpose, or truth.

From the oldest generations of man, to the generation preceding the technological revolution that began in the 1950's, life had meaning precisely for these reasons (pursuit of meaning, purpose, or truth .

However, the technological revolution (that grows/evolves exponentially as we speak) has seemingly killed these esoteric pursuits of man and replaced them with inherently selfish/vain/masturbatory pursuits of meaning and self. Is our collective self obsession, technology/productivity growth, and the ever quickening rate of popular culture; responsible for how aimless and deeply unhappy humanity has become in the past century?

>In your opinion /lit/, why is the world so unhappy? (despite existing during the most connected, most technologically advanced, most information accessible, most peaceful time throughout history)

[Anonymous No.12111597]

Why do people treat /lit/ as an extension of /r9k/?

[Anonymous No.12111602]

Your life is unfulfilling, but mine is not. Stop projecting your own failures onto society.

[Anonymous No.12111608]

>>12111593
Your truth-seeking, anti-technology stance is merely nostalgic caveman worship. It has always been this way, and it always will be - nothing changes.

[Anonymous No.12111626]

>>12111593
Have you read Kaczynski

[Anonymous No.12111640]

>>12111597
Because /lit/ got booted out of /r9k/ for poetry and philosofagging.

[Anonymous No.12111649]

>>12111640
kek

[Anonymous No.12111657]

>Self improvement is unfulfilling
>I don't want to use medicines to cure my Anxiety and depression

You know just because you post on /lit/ doesn't mean you are in any way shape or form an intellectual.

[Anonymous No.12111675]

>>12111593
That's not much of an answer, OP, but to keep this thread /lit here is what the poet says:

"L'Humanité bavarde, ivre de son génie
Et folle maintenant comme elle était jadis
Criant à Dieu dans sa furibonde agonie
<<Ô mon sembable, ô mon maître, je te maudis ! >> "

Rhoughly translated:

"Talkative Humanity, drunken with its own genius
And now as crazied as in the days of yore
Screaming to God in frenzied agony
<<My kin, my master, I curse thee !>>"

We are as every bit as crazy are our fathers were, OP :/

[Anonymous No.12111688]

>>12111602

>Your life is unfulfilling, but mine is not.

You're lying to yourself. Any fulfillment you are experiencing is entirely illusionary and most certainly temporary.
Or, you've convinced yourself that a consistent pursuit of quick pleasures that spike dopamine in your brain is a satisfactory replacement for purpose, meaning, or truth. Whatever your pleasure may be (drugs, sex, entertainment, family, music, etc).

[Anonymous No.12111742]

>>12111657

I am truly envious and glad that you, anon, can convince yourself, to some degree of certainty, that masturbatory pursuits of self and chemically induced states of calm temperament is all your psyche needs to convince itself of the worthiness of this flayed life we all currently exist within.
Not that it matters, but my IQ is 156.

[Anonymous No.12111749]

>>12111742
>156 IQ
>still on 4chan
proof that IQ is meaningless

[Anonymous No.12111771]

>>12111626
Bits and pieces. I find myself agreeing with his work, but also realizing the futility of his philosophy considering it is impossible to implement in modern day.

I want to download/buy his complete works, but not enough to justify the watch list I would inevitably be placed in by doing so.

[Anonymous No.12111798]

>>12111749
>proof that IQ is meaningless
I agree. It has never brought me anything but grief. No prestige, recognition, riches, or greater epiphany. Just isolation, apprehensive looks, and a greater understanding of life's tragedy.

[Anonymous No.12111802]

>>12111771
>also realizing the futility of his philosophy considering it is impossible to implement in modern day.
I disagree. I think it’s possible for a society to advance in technology while being responsible and not becoming enslaved to it. But this require other difficult tasks to be completed, like eliminating competition between countries and reducing populations.

[Anonymous No.12111831]

>>12111749
i have IQ 136 and i lurk here

[Anonymous No.12111858]

>>12111688
>I watched a youtube video on surface level philosophy once
wew lad, actually read a book moron.

[Anonymous No.12111878]

>>12111602
This.

[Anonymous No.12111880]

>>12111608
this.

[Anonymous No.12111891]

>>12111688
lol cool story bro

[Anonymous No.12111937]

>>12111802
>this require other difficult tasks to be completed, like eliminating competition between countries and reducing populations
The dominoes have already been begun to topple towards ensured destruction, and anyone who believes the path that civilization blindly trods towards the approaching fiery reckoning can be reversed, simply because a few minds feel the flames, is either a fool or practiced in self deception.

We will eventually destroy ourselves and anarcho-primitivism will be forced upon the survivors. It will not, however, be our choice.

[Anonymous No.12111957]

>>12111891
>>12111858
>>12111608
>>12111602
>>12111878
>>12111880

Good rebuttals, guys. Your soundbite-tier responses truly proved that only intellectual heavy weights lurk /lit/. Highest marks.

[Anonymous No.12111963]

>>12111858

>wew lad, actually read a book moron.
What book? Go on bitch boy, lay it on me.

[Anonymous No.12111992]

>>12111675
>"Talkative Humanity, drunken with its own genius
>And now as crazied as in the days of yore
>Screaming to God in frenzied agony
>My kin, my master, I curse thee !

Pretty sure I screamed a comparable sentiment at the night sky during my last drinking bender right after I got booted from the bar for "excessive inebriation".

[Anonymous No.12112107]

>>12111688
read Nietzsche

[Anonymous No.12112185]

>>12111992
That's exactly the spirit anon. You might be a Baudelaire in the making.

[Anonymous No.12112248]

>>12111957
OP is making conjectures with no basis. Therefore responses can meet it at the same level. Sociology is a joke, a meaningless intellectual exercise at best.

[Anonymous No.12112262]

>>12111593
>My life is unfulfilling
Fixed that for you
You're starting everything on an assumption that "the world is unhappy."
Probably because you're a miserable teenager who can't see past his own depression. Take a shower you slob. Just because you're pathetic doesn't mean we all are.

[Anonymous No.12112312]

>>12111688
There is no ultimate truth, you can search all you want, you won’t find anything. Life is transitory, make with it what you will, some find satisfaction on simple pleasures, some devote themselves to art, etc. You are rejecting the body in favor of metaphysical emptiness. This anon >>12112107
is right.

[Anonymous No.12112326]

>>12112248
>Sociology is a joke, a meaningless intellectual exercise at best.
I don't think anyone here, including OP, has claimed Sociology is anything other than the most worthless of the "soft sciences", rife with homosexuals, Jews, third wave feminists, and individuals that couldn't hack it in psychology.

Seriously though, where does he mention Sociology once? Or is this just a serious case of projection?

[Anonymous No.12112359]

>>12112262
>You're starting everything on an assumption that "the world is unhappy."
If you aren't unhappy, you are either willfully ignorant of the situation the human race finds itself, or not very intelligent (and therefore find fewer barriers to the wholesale acceptance of, and participation in, the base and mindless enjoyments society relentlessly pushes upon populations to keep them complacent and calm as the world burns around them).

[Anonymous No.12112373]

>>12112359
If you believe that happiness is unintelligent you will never be able to muster the energy to make a positive difference. There are terrible things in the world, sure, and I expect that I know them better than you, but I am happy. Happiness is the more intelligent and productive response.

[Anonymous No.12112376]

>>12112359
humans are adaptable species and can achieve happiness in many different circumstances

you're just a mentally soft bitch who can't take responsibility for his own problems

[Anonymous No.12112390]

>the direction of the world
>human race
>control of population via consumption. *sent from my iPhone 8*
>purpose
>truth
>oldest generations had meaning

[Anonymous No.12112399]

>>12111593
Fuck off back to /x/ asshole

[Anonymous No.12112400]

>>12111742
>my IQ is 156
Even if true, that only puts you at about one in one thousand. There are billions of people on the planet today. You are not special in the grand scheme of things.

[Anonymous No.12112404]

>>12112326
Sorry, what I meant was that OPs claims about society, meaning, and individual worth were sociology-tier in terms of verifiability and sophistication.

[Anonymous No.12112441]

>>12112373
>>12112376

>If you believe that happiness is unintelligent you will never be able to muster the energy to make a positive difference.


I never claimed that. True happiness is real, and can be experienced by all levels of intellect, from invalid to Einstein. However, happiness in modern society is almost entirely manufactured through shallow entertainment, pursuit of meaningless dopamine rushes, fixation on carnal/base pursuits, and the most damaging of all, mass prescriptions of psychiatric "mood enhancing" drugs.
If happiness can only be achieved by willful ignorance and outright manipulation of brain chemistry, was it ever real to begin with?

I would say "no".

[Anonymous No.12112457]

>>12111742
thank god I'm not the smartest /lit/ poster, it's actually relieving
>150 iqlet

[Anonymous No.12112459]

>>12112400
>You are not special in the grand scheme of things.
Don't think he ever claimed to be desu.

[Anonymous No.12112473]

>>12112441
>However, happiness in modern society is almost entirely manufactured through shallow entertainment, pursuit of meaningless dopamine rushes, fixation on carnal/base pursuits, and the most damaging of all, mass prescriptions of psychiatric "mood enhancing" drugs.
I don't indulge in any of those and I'm happy. Checkmate.

[Anonymous No.12112476]

>>12112400
>You are not special in the grand scheme of things.
Absolutely wrong. IQs above 140 would make you the smartest invidivual in your tribe/community. IQs above 140 are directly responsible for herding the tribe. You think nature is some random experiment that throws independent variables together and hope for the best? Every aristocracy/monarchy/higher caste was exclusively composed of high IQs. The IQ part is just a portion of it, since with it usually comes greater intuition and spiritual tendency. High IQs exist for a reason

[Anonymous No.12112487]

>>12112476
>Every aristocracy/monarchy/higher caste was exclusively composed of high IQs.

[Anonymous No.12112502]

>IQ
I immediately know the poster is american

[Anonymous No.12112538]

>>12112400
>Even if true, that only puts you at about one in one thousand. There are billions of people on the planet today. You are not special in the grand scheme of things.
Not him, but the statically chance of him meeting even a handful of people throughout the entirety of his life that could be considered "intellectual equals" is slim to none. I've known some brilliant minds throughout my experiences in academia, and their intellect, while something to behold, is often coupled with severe social anxiety, severe depression, severe introversion, and severe agoraphobia. These blokes have literally only had their never ending stream of consciousness to keep them company since childhood.

So while 1 in 10,000 isn't THAT statically significant in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean those people aren't burdened by their intellect, or have any intellectual peers within their immediate social grouping.

[Anonymous No.12112543]

>>12112538
wisdom is more important than intellect

[Anonymous No.12112551]

>>12112543
>tfw stupid AND depressed

[Anonymous No.12112554]

>>12112476
>You think nature is some random experiment that throws independent variables together and hope for the best?

That's actually a pretty good summary of evolution except for the independent part. Even the worse tards here are achievements selected from billion of idiotic and predictable failures.

[Anonymous No.12112558]

I wish there was something worth dying for. I kind of wish my country got invaded again so I could fight for the existense of my people, though I'm sure it would suck. Also the I could kill people without repercussions, which would be pretty sweet.

[Anonymous No.12112561]

>>12112558
>Also the I could kill people without repercussions, which would be pretty sweet.
You could start with yourself

[Anonymous No.12112584]

>>12112561
That's just silly. I couldn't enjoy the feeling of blood lust if I'm dead.

[Anonymous No.12112596]

>>12112551
oh no no no noooo

[Anonymous No.12112604]

>>12112584
Go fight ISIS or something. One /pol/ack got caught in the border packing a ton of guns with which he intended to wage a one man war.

[Anonymous No.12112612]

>>12112487

The political advisors that served as de-facto rulers and controlled the country while that inbred young lad spent his time digging up his long dead relative's corpses? Yea, those guys were likely pretty sharp desu.

[Anonymous No.12112622]

>>12112543
>wisdom is more important than intellect
Are you implying wisdom can only come from experience? How anti-/lit/ of you.

[Anonymous No.12112626]

>>12112622
I did not imply that

[Anonymous No.12112629]

>>12112604
That would be a bit of a waste, dying in the desert with a bunch of sand people, but I will consider it.

[Anonymous No.12112634]

>>12112629
>That would be a bit of a waste
Don't worry, it wouldn't

[Anonymous No.12112635]

>>12111593
>technological revolution
cultural revolution, technology is completely irrelevant in this regard
one that has its roots in the enlightenment and which culminated in 1789, 1848 and eventually reached its final stage in the 60s as a result of social change after ww2
modernity is evil and shallow

[Anonymous No.12112650]

>>12112634
Yikes

[Anonymous No.12112702]

>>12111593
>However, the technological revolution (that grows/evolves exponentially as we speak) has seemingly killed these esoteric pursuits of man and replaced them with inherently selfish/vain/masturbatory pursuits of meaning and self.

>*watches my girlfriend (and 70% of all females in my age group) as she/they stimulate the problem/goal/completion parts of their brain as they happily play mindless phone games for 3 continuous hours. Accomplishing nothing, but tricking their mind into thinking they have*

[Anonymous No.12112792]

>>12112473
>I don't indulge in any of those and I'm happy. Checkmate.
What are your hobbies anon?

[Anonymous No.12112810]

>>12112502
>I immediately know the poster is American
And don't you forget it.

[Anonymous No.12112821]

>>12111593
You all didn't listen.

[Anonymous No.12112825]

>>12111831
Did you enjoy any of the other free tests too

[Anonymous No.12112835]

>>12112476
Oh golly so I can by part of the 8 million person ruling caste? That's just called not being retarded, friend.

[Anonymous No.12112844]

>>12112702
>Videogames
>Girls
Nah

[Anonymous No.12112942]

>>12112635
>cultural revolution, technology is completely irrelevant in this regard
I disagree. I believe the degradation of societal pillars, that have served us well for so long, is directly linked to the inability of culture to evolve in tandem with the increasing speed of technological innovation.

>It took 200,000 years of cumulative knowledge for man to invent the combustible engine, and only 50 years from that moment to successfully split the atom.
>The first successful airplane flight was in 1903, and 44 years later in 1947 we broke the sound barrier in an airplane for the first time. Then 22 years later in 1969 we successfully flew, and landed, a spacecraft to the moon. First flight to touchdown on the moon only took 66 years.
>In the 1970's we invented the personal computer, and 40 years from that moment and we're on the brink of creating consciousness from scratch with artificial intelligence.
>We didn't invent the modern firearm until 1363, and 6 centuries later we are able to drone someone from an office chair halfway across the world, or nuke the world into a nuclear winter that would end all life on earth.

My point? Technology is not inherently evil, but it develops at a speed that does not allow the collective culture of humanity to keep up. How much could culture have collectively matured within that amount of time? How much will we change in the coming several generations before something else monumental tests the weakness that is inherit to human consciousness and threatens our continued survival for the simple reason that we are not ready to use it responsibly?

[Anonymous No.12112983]

>>12112792
reading and walking

[Anonymous No.12113054]

>>12112983

I think that's great, but isn't that just you receding from society as it moves and morphs forward? Therefore forfeiting your duty/privilege of having a hand in guiding the inevitable progress of future culture (and ensuring it is guided toward a route of success and not failure)?

[Anonymous No.12113063]

>>12111937
By this point I almost fear the other option more, that is, society not getting destroyed

[Anonymous No.12113103]

>>12113054
Whatever society you live in there are temptations to sin and do wrong. I believe I fulfill my duty to society by living a moral life and not contributing more to the negative aspects.

[Anonymous No.12113151]

>>12113054
You need to be capable of relaxing to enjoy living, anon.

[Anonymous No.12113161]

>>12111688
I'm raising a family with the love of my life and building a life together.
That's what most men did throughout history, particularly since the agrarian revolution.
I find enough meaning and purpose in that.

[Anonymous No.12113183]

>>12113151

>tfw

[Anonymous No.12113186]

Why must we constantly have this thread and others like it? The "pursuit of truth" has never been a high priority for the vast majority of people, and I doubt it is for you.

[Anonymous No.12113212]

>>12113186
>Why must we constantly have this thread and others like it?
Because some men dream of sitting on mountaintops, while others are content living in the valley of the mountain's shadow. Guess which one you are anon.

[Anonymous No.12113231]

>>12111742
If you were smart, you wouldn't be this pathetic and you would be out doing something useful.

[Anonymous No.12113257]

>>12113212
keep dreaming, your talent doesn't match your narcissism unfortunately

[Anonymous No.12113288]

>>12113212
Your search for "truth" is a mask for your desire of validation and praise. You want people to praise you for your intelligence, you want to feel special, you want to be considered better than others.
You are not a real truth seeker, like say Newton, who was a complete autist shut in his room working 24/7. You are a narcisstic psued.
And I am too, along with everyone else on this board.

[Anonymous No.12113297]

>>12113288
I'm not, I just wanna get my dick sucked lol

[Anonymous No.12113308]

>>12113231
>>12113257

Don't worry anons. Your projection certainly doesn't reveal your insecurity and feelings of inadequacy lmao

[Anonymous No.12113322]

>>12113308
you're the one who made the thread, we don't care

[Anonymous No.12113324]

>>12113288
>You are not a real truth seeker, like say Newton, who was a complete autist shut in his room working 24/7.
Implying Isaac Newton wouldn't post on /lit/ and /sci/ when he hit creative blocks. Sure thing anon :^]

[Anonymous No.12113352]

>>12113322
>we don't care
Clearly. When I feel apathetic toward something I too feel the need to make a public display of my indifference by announcing it to as many people who will listen.

[Anonymous No.12113367]

>>12111798
>IQ is meaningless

>Here are several things that having a high IQ means, it sucks.

>MEANINGLESS

Evidently it is if you have one of 156 and your reading comprehension is this poor.

[Anonymous No.12113443]

>>12113367

>something without meaning or purpose cannot affect your life
Just because something is pointless, does not mean it is doesn't have a concrete effect on it's surrounding in either a positive, negative, or neutral fashion.
Just look at your life anon. It doesn't have a point, is lived without purpose or meaning, and yet you still manage to be a drag on society, environment, and the collective integrity of human intellect.

[Anonymous No.12113561]

>>12113443

IQ's entire purpose is to mean something, it is supposed to indicated what your intellectual capability is. The post didn't say IQ was pointless, it said it was meaningless, i.e., it means nothing about your abilities and inabilities.

>End banter

Swing and a miss, I'm afraid. There are many things I don't like about by life, but I *am* a productive member of society, if only to be able to put most of it behind me at a later date.

Idk why you claim to have an IQ of 156 anon, maybe you're lonely or seeking a conflict or something, but whatever the reason it's even more sad and pathetic than the fact I'm responding to you. Anyways gotta go don't expect a response.

[Anonymous No.12113628]

>>12113561

I'm glad we can learn together anon.
>pic related

>Anyways gotta go don't expect a response.
And nothing of value was lost :^]

[Anonymous No.12113680]

ctrl F

no zerzan

/lit/ i am disappoint

hey OP, read the works of John Zerzan, he lays out the problems w modernity and civilization in general quite well

[Anonymous No.12113728]

>>12113297
Doing intellectual stuff isn't going to get your dick sucked, at least not as easily as being good looking and having muscles.

[Anonymous No.12113737]

>>12113324
He wouldn't.
He barely spoke to anyone. He hated speaking to people. I'm sorry anon, but you are not a true genius like Newton. You're just a narcissistic attention whore.

[Anonymous No.12113742]

>>12113308
I'm telling you the truth. There are countless companies, universities, and insittions of various types filled with intelligent people doing shit.
Meanwhile you're sat on a cartoon forum talking about how great you are.

[Anonymous No.12113814]

>>12111593
>Modern life is unfulfilling /lit/.
"Modern life" can mean a million different things, since each individual guides their own life and desires. Nobody is forcing anyone to do the stuff you condemn, that is common today. At any point everyone has free will not to do those things.

>>12113054
I thought the entire culture and life was supposed to be fucked, no? Why is the anon suddenly expected to fix the world?

Also, fuck fixing the world. In the past it resulted only in bloodshed. Build the fulfilling, meaningful life and culture, slowly and with care, and those who need it will find it. Who doesn't, won't. Today we don't need arrogant saviours like you.

[Anonymous No.12113824]

>>12113680

Fantastic. Thank you anon.

[Anonymous No.12113997]

>>12113737
>>12113742

It seems I have really gotten stuck in your craw! I usually don't parrot worn out memery, but you truly seem to be SEETHING.
To answer your question. I post here because I enjoy the anonymous aspect 4chan has always provided to the users. It strips all implicit bias away from the poster, and only the content of the post is left to judge a given assertion. An opinion is only as valid or baseless as the arguments and information given. Perhaps that is why you are so upset? Do people pay less attention to you when you are based solely on your thoughts and opinions?

[Anonymous No.12114028]

>>12111640
And now /r9k/ is just /soc/ without the selfies and drowning in traps and Normies.

[Anonymous No.12114046]

Why is everyone here so fucking boring? This thread is full of empty cunts.

[Anonymous No.12114049]

>>12113352
> ironically doing what he is renouncing

[Anonymous No.12114066]

>>12114046
>empty cunts
This is somewhat redundant isn't it

[Anonymous No.12114099]

>>12114046

>This thread is full of empty cunts.
And your entrance marks one more.

[Anonymous No.12114204]

Listen, I just want to destroy everything. I want to destroy everyone in this thread. I want to destroy your families. I want to destroy your cities. I want to destroy your countries. I want to destroy any of your pleasures. I want to destroy it all, by myself. When everything is destroyed and all that remains is me, I want to destroy myself.

What would Kaszynscki have to say about this?

[Anonymous No.12114262]

>>12114204

>That wouldn't be very cash money of you.

[Anonymous No.12114308]

>>12111593
Jesus fuck, just go outside you absolute fag.

[Anonymous No.12114316]

Capitalism is the problem. From that, all other problems branch.

[Anonymous No.12114393]

>>12112359
Read some existentialism. Seriously, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, any of the "founders". You need a kick in right direction and, while it might suck at first, you'll be thankful in the long run.

[Anonymous No.12114399]

>>12111593
Getting high of this dying world is so funny that I can stomach all the people who take it seriously

[Anonymous No.12115503]

>>12114066
Not really, is it?

[Anonymous No.12115511]

>>12114046
>projection the post

[Anonymous No.12115517]

>>12115511
>>12114099
>no u
This is exactly what I'm talking about.