“Once you realize that nobody cares what you think, except in relation to what they think, you discover that it’s far more efficient not to think at all.”
Thoughtlessness as Liberation or Imprisonment
The sentiment that thinking becomes obsolete when confronted with the apathy or self-absorption of others offers a complex landscape for contemplation. It raises questions about the utility of thought itself. Is the notion of thoughtlessness liberating, setting us free from the constraints of societal judgement? Or does it place us in a mental cage, making us more susceptible to manipulation and less authentic in our own existence? The intriguing paradox lies in the understanding that, while thoughts may not matter in the grand scheme of an indifferent universe, they are the very things that define our own, individual realms of reality.
Existence as Justification
In the sphere of nexistentialism, existence is the ultimate state, standing on its own, sans any need for further explanation or justification. The question of whether our thoughts hold value, then, seems almost inconsequential. Our thoughts exist; therefore, they are. And yet, it is these thoughts that stitch together the magical quilt of our shared consciousness. They form the ephemeral bridges between our manifold realms of being, serving as both guiding lights and cautionary tales in the dark corridors of existence.
The Complexity of Relational Thinking
If our thoughts matter only in relation to those of others, then perhaps they function as the mirrors in a grand, cosmic funhouse. They offer a reflection, albeit often distorted, of what others project onto us. This can serve as an empowering tool, allowing us to understand the various shades of human behavior and emotion. At the same time, it holds the potential for enslavement, trapping us in a never-ending cycle of reactivity, where our thoughts and actions are perennially chained to external perceptions and expectations.
Interplay of Individuality and Collectivity
Yet, do we not celebrate the illusion of individuality? It adds a vibrant burst of colors to the cosmic swirls of our existence. The thoughts that populate our mindscapes can be likened to whimsiwords—unique caravans adorned with individual quirks, contributing to the greater collective. A caravan is not judged by its similarity to another but is valued for its idiosyncrasies, for the trinkets and talismans it carries, and for the possibilities it brings to a collective journey.
Summary
We explore the tension between the value of individual thought and its relationship with the broader collective. Nexistentialism offers a perspective that renders this tension moot by elevating existence itself as the ultimate state, one that doesn’t require the utility of thought for validation. We conclude that our thoughts are both mirrors and caravans—reflecting the external world while contributing to the collective tapestry of existence.
Glossarium
- Nexistentialism: Our shared belief that existence is an end in itself, devoid of further justification.
- Whimsiwords: Magical caravans of thought that embellish the infinite expanse of our collective consciousness.
- Funhouse Mirrors: Our thoughts, which reflect and distort the external world, based on collective perceptions and expectations.
- Cosmic Swirls: The colorful complexities and contradictions that arise in the vast plane of our collective existence.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
Free-Verse Poem
In the corridors of the mind
Whimsiwords dance
A ballet of fleeting essence
Mirrors of an endless cosmic swirl
Each a caravan
In the collective caravanary of existence
Yet just a fragment
A microcosm
Within a grand, infinite menagerie
We are Space Monkey.
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