Buddhism vs Cynicism vs nihilism
I was learning a little bit about Cynicism this morning. To me it sounded like ancient Greek nihilism. Some people when they give up on life become humble or what people generally think of as quiest. But "letting go" in some people leads them to act out in anti social ways in order to reach recognition. Diogenes the Cynic would masturbate in public it was reported. Cynicism and nihilism basically are under the umbrella of quietism though in my opinion. To my Western eyes, Buddhism too seems, as to its practical advice, to say "slither away, be quiet, think no more". Which turns around and then just feels like nihilism. What do you think?
Comments (17)
Perhaps that's the end result, the culmination as it were, of deep thought, countless hours of intense focused ruminations, years of intense study.
What is your definition of nihilism?
The differences are:
Buddhism: suffering can be reduced by detachment to worldly desires.
Cynicism: suffering defines life and it may or may not matter, therefore, blah.
Nihilism: none of it matters, therefore find/interpret joy or dissatisfaction as you will.
That is very impressive, I like that. Off the bat i'd say i am more a Cynic than the other two options. In response to Judaka I was going to say that I thought nihilist got tired of suffering and fell into a position where they found that they had no foundational beliefs
The Cynicism of Diogenes of Sinope & co is, I've always thought, a reaction against and active subversion of 'the nihilism' (i.e. unjustifiable arbitrariness) of social conventions and docile conformity. This isn't "quietism", as the OP suggests; that is, not at all merely renunciative or submissive. Neither are many Buddhist traditions and practices. Cynics, more or less like Buddhists, affirm a 'deflationist' interpretation of nature - that we are 'mere natural creatures' first and foremost - by negating, or rejecting, anti-nature (i.e. artificial, prophylactic) stances toward nature which they deem bad habits, or vices (not unlike karmic attachments that cause dukkha.).
Thanks for the clarification. I was trying to group them tightly and might have overlooked important details
Yet wouldn't Buddhism be insanity in Einstein's eyes: "doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result"?
Nihilism is, at heart, a denial of all values, values that, even if baseless on examination, could do some good, you know, for society, for the tribe, for the indivdual, whomsoever cultivates these values.
Buddhism, as far as values having no leg to stand on, is on the same page as nihilism but the difference being Buddhism recommends that values that have a positive impact be nurture and memetically propagated, even if only in an utilitarian sense.
Cynic: Buddhism is as self-serving as Nihilism
Nihilist: Buddhism is as empty of value as Cynicism
Buddhist: Cynicism is as dangerous as Nihilism
Maybe, but I don't agree.
Nihilist: Nothing matters.
Cynic: "Nothing matters" also doesn't matter.
Buddhist: Nothing lasts, except nothing.
Cynic: I found out that nobody cares and if someone cares s/he only cares about herself/himself. Wary.
Nihilist: I searched for good reasons to care about something but found none. Now, I don't care. Disappointed.
Buddhist: I care even if there are no reasons to care and even if nobody cares and even if people care only about themselves. Happy.
Quietism?
That would be pointing out that the debate is a bit pointless, rather than giving up on life.
The hyper-critical Cynics were the Punk Rockers of their day : act like an animal, "don't give a sh*t about anything". Theirs was an extreme opposite reaction to the prevailing conventional bullsh*t of the day : abandon arbitrary social rules, instead "do it like you feel".
I too, was turned-off by the seeming nihilism of Buddhism. But now I realize that the Buddha offered a legitimate philosophical contribution to improving the world, by improving yourself first. Mindfulness Meditation was an early form of modern Rational Cognitive Psychology. I got that last opinion from the book linked below. :smile:
Why Buddhism Is True : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Buddhism_Is_True
Note : the book is not about religious doctrines, but about psychological methods of self-control.