Comments by "Mat Broomfield" (@matbroomfield) on "The Optimism of Melancholia | Slavoj Žižek | Big Think" video.

  1. Okay, but that wasn't the premise upon which this discussion is predicated (and I would argue that YOUR position is not one of optimism either). The premise is that KNOWING you are soon to die, and accepting it, is an optimistic position. I assert that it is not. It is mere fatallism.
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  2. It depends where you're coming from.
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  3. In this context, it's is totally fatalism, because the earth is about to be destroyed. I agree that realism is the basis for a non-delusional assessment, but that might just as well be pessimism as optimism. But peaceful acceptance of your fate is not the path I want to follow. If I'm adrift in the middle of the ocean, I'm going to keep swimming until my very last breath. Because realism, or fatalism serves no valuable purpose in that situation.
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  4. I accept your first premise about realism, but what does that have to do with the case that this man is making? He is suggesting that facing imminent and unavoidable death with acceptance is akin to optimism - finding the positive in the situation. I assert that that is nonsense. There is no positive. That the characters meet their deaths with calm resignation is in no way the same as optimism.
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  5. Acceptance is not optimism. The peace of fatalism, is not the same as the joy of optimism.
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  6. Right.
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  7. You're not Slovenian by any chance? ;-)
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  8. What has that to do with anything?
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  9. SPOILER ALERT The very last image of the film is the three main characters (including a little boy) sitting on a hill holding hands peacefully as the planet swells on the horizon. They all get vapourised most horribly. Fade to black. It paints a picture of meeting inevitable destruction with composure. There's absolutely NOTHING optimistic about it. At best you could argue that with acceptance, pain disappears. Until a planet smacks you in the gob.
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  10. Oh dear. Yes, pre-characterise questioning as "some castrated line", that's exactly how cults have always worked to discourage rightfully sceptical enquiry. Tell you what, you live your life by your beliefs and I'll do likewise, and if you'd be kind enough to stay well away from me, I'd appreciate it thank you.
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  11. Ba da boom! But seriously, if you are arguing that things can always be better because they're always sub-optimal, then it's a pessimistic (or at best a realistic) statement. But if you're arguing that woop woop, things are great but they can get EVEN better, then it's an optimistic one.
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