Dabrowski’s theory and existential depression (2020)
For me and a friend, we&#x27;d joke about our existential despair. &quot;What&#x27;s wrong?&quot;  &quot;The Void&quot;<p>Any philosophy that just asserted that the Universe has meaning was a non-starter, for me. There is nothing that I can see that unambiguously tells me that the Universe ultimately has absolute purpose or meaning. It could, but anyone who tells you they know the fundamental question of <i>why we are here</i> is delusional or a liar. The only overarching framework that could situate me confidently in the world would have to explicitly acknowledge that the Universe could in fact be meaningless.<p>An English course in college helped me out with this. A lot of the course covered Norse religion and philosophy, which was intensely bleak. Ragnarok, in one version, is the End. There is no rebirth or renewal. The world <i>will be</i> consumed by Fenrir and the chaos wolves, and after, for eternity, the world will be Winter. In that philosophy, this is a fact of life: this future is preordained. Your best outcome is to be invited by the Gods to fight - and lose - in the final battle against the Forces of Chaos and Despair. You&#x27;re going down, but the highest honor you can bring yourself and your kin is to go down fighting.<p>Humans create meaning in the face of an uncaring, indifferent Void. It&#x27;s our superpower. Human-created meaning is arbitrary, but no less real for that. The fact that Vikings chose to create meaning by slaughtering their unfortunate neighbors is a bit beside the point. That was their interpretation, but it&#x27;s not the only, nor best one.<p><i>Hwæt! The Universe might be meaningless</i>, these nihilistic Viking ghosts whispered to me, across the centuries. <i>Live bravely, do not allow yourself to wallow in despair while entropy gathers itself. Make meaning, fight, build, love, stay healthy right in the face of the Uncaring Void. It&#x27;s the only thing you can do. Entropy will win. Until then, make it meaningful.</i>