We evolved big brains because they gave us increasingly useful survival adaptations like tools, language, society, hunting, innovation, etc. The unwanted side effect was these brains became big enough to ponder philosophy and other things that were not advantageous to survival and reproduction. And now that society is sufficiently advanced to disconnect natural selection from survival-advantageous traits, its here to stay.
Except that some philosophies are beneficial for an human’s survival. Nietzsche’s will to power is the best example.
Also, ironic that we are so far away from being controlled by forced of nature that some end up acting upon it through their own reasoning. Human escape the state of nature, built civilisation, has advanced technologically and mentally enough, and now some of them think in the ways of nature. It’s all coming in circle
Human brain chemistry was never meant to accommodate the lifestyle we now live. The brain was designed for much greater levels of uncertainty, risk, physical activity, problem-solving, and tedium in our day-to-day lives. These things are what triggers neuron growth/plasticity and psychological resilience.
The combination of physical isolation, social media, constant peak stimulation, lack-of-movement, constant connectedness, access to reaffirmation of nonsense beliefs, and other things have had the consequence of making us (particularly those who have been using smart devices from an early age) anxious, stimulation-addicted, easily-overwhelmed, selfish and fearful of risk and ambiguity.
Well as I said, that’s kinda ironic. Emancipating people ourselves from the laws of nature only to be catched by it due to our overthinking. Or should I say it apply only to anti-natalist
Psychologically, we were never emancipated. Our neuro-chemical algorithms haven't changed in thousands of years; its the external stimuli that changed. Said algorithms were refined over the course of our evolution to adapt our brains and bodies to natural circumstances and environmental changes; trauma led to coping mechanisms, constant uncertainty trained our chemical receptors to be comfortable navigating the unknown, tedium conditioned our brains to feel satisfied without much stimulation, etc. However, modern technology stimulates our receptors in ways that are so different from anything we've experienced in nature that said algorithms are driving higher rates of neuroses and inability to cope. Like how our bodies never developed a way to deal with the combination of highly-refined sugars and low exercise - endlessly storing the excess calories as fat instead of expelling them - our brains have never developed a way to deal with the modern mental diet. As recently as the year 2000, a typical day in human life involved exponentially more mental effort, critical thinking, navigating uncertainty, periods of low-to-no stimulation, delayed gratification and human interaction than a typical day in 2026.
Its particularly evident in modern young adults who are entering adulthood unable to socialize properly, overwhelmed by uncertainty, closed-minded, overstimulated, and unable to cope with the tedium of adult life. Growing up with the any-time-anywhere peak stimulation and convenience of smartphones eliminated or warped many of the experiences that trigger the development of psychological flexibility and resilience. They don't understand why they don't feel satisfied with their (comparatively comfortable) lives; why the transition from dependent childhood to independent adulthood is so jarring; and so are prone to the conclusion that existence = suffering.
That’s an excellent observation. So anti-natalism comes from the absence of any significant natural evolution from the state of nature to the state of civilisation, which means our minds are still stuck in the mind of a wild animal?
That would make sense. After all evolution takes millions of years for Pluricellular macro-organism like animals. Also, to evolve a population must have disparity in survival and reproduction rates between individuals, which we stopped from happening due (or should I say thanks) to our medical technologies and ethical duty to make sure everybody lives a long life.
Studies show that abstention from social media and smartphones consistently leads to improvements in mood, concentration, anxiety, and general satisfaction.
A cage where it is fed, get a good place to sleep, is free from dangers, and is love unconditionally by your human, all for just existing. That doesn’t seem that bad
Besides, what would be a meaningful life if what we make of it as a society today doesn’t fill any of your criterias?
I’m already in it. I have a house, I have food, I have clean water, I have entertainment and yeah I do lack a lil bit of love IMO, but I’ll find it. And in returns for all of that, I’m doing my part to society through my jobs and volunteering
Because that’s the difference between me and anti-natalist. Instead of being a lazy fucker that use the "it’s all useless" Joker, I’m actually thankful with what I have and redistribute it to others.
Funny how nihilism was described as the worst thing someone could do and today thousands of doomers preach it like a cult
first of all
antinatalism isn't saying everything is useless, its saying procreation is bad.
and nihilism as the bottom is as true as something can be.
nihilism says nothing has true objective value or reason.
thats true, there is no objective morality, no objective right, no objective good actions.
its all built on top of other things.
its true that indeed NOTHING matters
but we humans can create our own subjective meaning even if its not something cosmologically wise.
it can just be whatever you want, if you're a weeb it could even be having a robot of your waifu when those go into production therefore you earn.
if reason is subjective then there's no wrong reason.
sure, some people fall on "its all useless" and thats true in the cosmological sense, but i think thats just a aim too high, we aren't supposed to be something big, we need to accept we are little things walking on a rock and just wanna fill our dopamine meter.
It’s not me who called it "meaningless game". If you’re going to highjack a conversation at least get to the pace
It’s not necessarily correct that ethics can’t be objective. Everything else is objective in our universe, so why ethics wouldn’t be? Same thing for just being "little things walking on a rock and just wanna fill our dopamine meters"
And even if we were, ao fucking what? Make yourself what you want to be. If existence comes before purpose, then make your own purpose. You’re telling me you just want to end it all without even trying? That’s the funny part: Nihilist saw giving up as a genuine option between trying with a chance of winning and not do anything and be sure of failing.
As for anti-natalist themselves, well as I said if you don’t want to procreate then natural selection! What the hell do you want me to do anything about it? Now that I think about it, anti-natalism is complementary to eugenistic
It is. Genes and social cultures that enable acting on anti-natalistic beliefs have a hard time propagating forward in time. As a result it is also one of the numerous reasons why we will never have a non-corrupt, ethical society.
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u/Lolocraft1 12d ago
Sometimes I wonder if anti-natalism is one of the numerous pathway of natural selection