Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy

Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy

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Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy
Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy
To Hell With Oneness

To Hell With Oneness

I'm not interested in the transfer of significance from the individual to some unknown entity called the One, Godhead, the universal self, or any other name you wish to invent.

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Martin Butler
Jan 15, 2025
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Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy
Martin Butler's Negative Philosophy
To Hell With Oneness
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woman lifting metal bar near white tent
Photo by jacob avanzato on Unsplash

The search for significance is as alive today as it has ever been. The possibility that we are nothing more than an accidental arising in a universe with no purpose or meaning is too hard for most people to bear, even though there is plentiful evidence that it is the case. The notion that an individual is significant in some way is no longer a tenable proposition for most people. When hundreds of millions die in revolutions, wars, purges, and the like, it is tough to believe that an individual human life has some significance. As a result, the claims of Western religious traditions that God loves us and is a benevolent force in existence are almost laughable. So, ever eager to seek meaning, people have adopted some traditions from the East, Vedanta being a good example. One of the central themes in these traditions is that, ultimately, we are all one, and in that lies our significance. All that has happened here is the transference of significance from the individual to some unknown entity called the One, Godhead, the universal self, or any other name you wish to invent.

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