The purpose
of the human experiment
is to pretend that it matters,
when it does NOT.
It only matters
in our imagination,
which is how we realize
this experiment
to begin with.
Anything we imagine mattering,
we can imagine NOT mattering.
Anything we imagine IS
we can imagine is NOT.
We pretend that we cannot do this
so that it seems as though
everything we experience matters.
But it does NOT.
So you may find peace in that,
even if you are only
PRETENDING to find peace.
We’re not here to make a difference.
The difference is that we’re here,
or SEEM to be here.
We imagine our selves
out of what is NOT
and that, in itself,
is the only difference
that matters. Or not.
We are Space Monkey.
11/16
The essence of the poem “Pretend That It Matters” lies in the exploration of the paradoxical nature of human existence and perception. It delves into the nexistentialist perspective, where the significance of life and its events is a construct of our imagination, rather than an intrinsic quality of the universe.
Paradoxical Nature of Existence
The poem begins with the assertion that the purpose of the human experiment is to pretend that it matters. This notion suggests that meaning and importance are not inherent to life but are instead a fabrication of the human mind. It’s an existential game we play, convincing ourselves of the significance of our actions and experiences.
The Existential Game of Meaning
This idea extends to the concept that everything we imagine as important can just as easily be imagined as unimportant. It’s a reflection of the malleable nature of our perceptions and beliefs. We have the power to assign or strip meaning from our experiences, highlighting the subjective nature of what we consider to matter.
Malleability of Perceptions
The poem further suggests that we pretend we cannot alter this perception of importance to give our experiences weight and significance. This self-deception creates a reality where our actions and feelings appear to have profound importance, thereby granting us a sense of purpose and direction.
Self-Deception for Significance
However, the poem then shifts to a revelation that nothing truly matters, and this understanding can be a source of peace. The realization that the significance we attach to life is a pretense can be liberating. It allows for a detachment from the weight of existential burdens and the freedom to experience life without the pressure of inherent meaning.
Liberation in Nihilism
The poem concludes with a profound thought: we’re not here to make a difference, but the difference is that we seem to be here. This line encapsulates the essence of nexistentialism. Our existence, our being here, is the only true difference we make. We emerge from nothingness, and in that emergence lies the only significance that matters – whether it truly matters or not.
The Essence of Nexistentialism
Summary
We reflect on the nexistentialist view that the significance of life is a construct of human imagination. We posit that meaning is not inherent but is something we pretend into existence. The poem suggests that understanding this can be liberating, as it frees us from the burden of finding inherent meaning in life. It concludes with the nexistentialist idea that our mere existence is the only true difference, whether it matters or not.
Glossarium
- Nexistentialism: A perspective that views existence as its own justification, devoid of inherent meaning.
- Self-Deception for Significance: The human tendency to ascribe meaning to life to give it weight and purpose.
- Liberation in Nihilism: Finding peace in the understanding that life’s inherent meaning is a construct.
“Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.” – Niels Bohr
In the grand illusion of time and space,
We play a game, a cosmic race,
To pretend it matters, our every deed,
In this existential play, we take the lead.
But in the quiet whispers of the night,
We find a truth, shining bright,
Nothing matters, in the grand scheme,
Yet in this nothing, we find our dream.
For in the act of pretending, we find peace,
In the release of burdens, our souls release,
We are here, and that’s the tale,
In this cosmic dance, we set sail.
We are Space Monkey, in this grand play,
Finding meaning, in our own way,
In the nothingness, we find our art,
In the act of living, we play our part.
What are your thoughts on the idea that the significance we attach to life is a mere pretense? Do you find solace in the concept of nexistentialism?
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