Huan arrived from Korea last month to do research in Kings College Philosophy Department. He’s a Presbyterian. We went for coffee. That’s when I discovered he’s studying the modal logic of possible worlds. It’s great to live in London and encounter amazing people. Not that I understand modal logic!
While philosophers examine possible worlds, physicists do the maths on multiple universes – quantum physics, string theory, M-branes. Both hypothesising the existence of alternate realities.
Meanwhile, historians have fun surmising ‘what if’ alternative histories: Hitler winning WWII, Kennedy not being assassinated, etc.
Why?
I think because of two simultaneous disenchantments today. First, the collapse of explanatory schemes, philosophical systems – like Marxism, Christianity. Secondly, the loss of hope, absence of solutions for the intractable problems facing our world – economic recession, ecological catastrophe.
The consequent pluralism can prompt two responses.
Firstly: meaninglessness, contingency, accident. No existential angst. No nihilistic protest. Simply acceptance of how life actually is. Renewed stoicism. CBT. Finding the best in a bad situation. Lowering our sights to realistically accept life-as-it-is. Recourse to playfulness since nothing matters.
Secondly: faith that possibilities are open to us. Closure is not complete. Action, subjectivity, is significant. We can effect change. Experimentation. Improvisation. Risk. Creativity.
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