Post 11 – Technological Nihilism on a Greek Chessboard

The Greek Chessboard and Western Thought

As we’ve seen, nihilism is intrinsic to the foundation of Western thought. Often referred to as the “Greek chessboard,” this foundation established the rules through which Western philosophy has engaged with reality, shaping the trajectory of its history. An obvious question arises: can this foundation be altered, allowing for a different way of thinking? Rather than envisioning change in the conventional sense, it is more accurate to recognize that this foundation must fully unfold its inherent contradictions to eventually transcend them. But what might such transcendence entail?

The Dawn of a New Era, Beyond Technology

Though still in its early stages, signs suggest that the contradictions of nihilism are becoming increasingly evident to a growing number of people. On the horizon, one might discern a faint glow—the herald of a potential new era. Paradoxically, the oppressive darkness of nihilism itself propels this awakening, compelling the human spirit to search for answers.

Yet, the roots of nihilism remain largely unexamined, leaving humanity far from a true resolution. For now, solutions are sought primarily through technological progress—a continuation and intensification of the nihilistic paradigm itself.

Technology as the Manifestation of Nihilism

Technology is not merely a collection of tools or applied sciences; it is the ultimate expression of the nihilistic foundation of Western thought. It represents the culmination of the metaphysical trajectory initiated by Greek philosophy, particularly in its treatment of Being and becoming.

Technology embodies humanity’s attempt to dominate and transform nature, reshaping the world to meet perceived needs and desires. This effort is deeply tied to the nihilistic belief that beings arise from nothing and return to nothing. Within this framework, beings are seen as manipulable, transient, and disposable.

Although technology appears to grant humanity power and autonomy, it is, in truth, an expression of the nihilistic paradigm. Its advancement is not the product of free choice but a necessity dictated by the metaphysical structure of Western thought. Humanity, while believing it controls technology, is in fact carried forward by the logic of this system.

In its relentless pursuit of transformation and control, technology deepens humanity’s alienation from the authentic sense of Being. By focusing on the impermanence of beings and the mastery of processes, it perpetuates the illusion of contingency and annihilation.

Technology as a Double-Edged Sword

Paradoxically, technology also plays a pivotal role in unmasking nihilism’s contradictions. As its limits become increasingly apparent, technology exposes the impossibility of achieving true stability or permanence within a paradigm of becoming and contingency. This unmasking, in turn, hints at humanity’s eventual reawakening to the eternal essence of Being.

In this light, technology is both a perpetuation of nihilism and a necessary catalyst for its transcendence. Its development, though nihilistic in origin, inevitably points to the need for a deeper understanding of Being—one unmediated by the constructs of nihilistic thought.

Beyond Nihilism

Nihilism persists due to a fundamental misunderstanding: the mistaken belief that Being arises from nothing and returns to nothing. It endures until the truth of Being—its eternity and indestructibility—is revealed. Once this truth is remembered, nihilism dissolves, much like darkness recedes when light enters a room.

A striking example of this dissolution can be found in the testimonies of those who have had Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). These individuals often describe an immediate and incontrovertible awareness of the eternity of Being, liberating them from the fear of death. Such experiences expose the errors inherent in nihilistic thinking. However, to the nihilistic mind, it is the eternity of Being that seems implausible, revealing the depth of its alienation.

Toward a New Foundation

We can envision a time when the awareness of Being’s eternity becomes a shared truth rather than a rare revelation. For now, humanity grapples with existential fears, often channeling them into technological pursuits aimed at control, immortality, or material utopias.

The paradigm of the Greek chessboard fosters the assumption that life emerges from nothing and returns to nothing, perpetuating fear and alienation. This worldview drives relentless efforts to dominate nature and accumulate material goods, which only deepen conflict and disconnection.

Recognizing that nothingness does not exist reveals the eternal and indivisible nature of Being. This realization frees humanity from the fear of an end and enables a deeper, unmediated engagement with existence. Freedom from the Greek chessboard does not mean rejecting its history but understanding its limitations.

Conclusion

The transcendence of nihilism lies not in a causal progression but in the necessary reawakening to the eternal essence of Being—an unshakable truth unmediated by nihilistic constructs. Technology, while perpetuating the Greek chessboard’s assumptions, also reveals its limitations, pointing toward a foundation grounded in immediacy and truth.

On this foundation, humanity does not move forward as if to escape contingency but instead recognizes the eternal as always present. This recognition fulfills history, returning to the authentic sense of Being, where existence is understood not as fleeting or contingent but as eternal, unified, and whole.