Episode description

The Minimalists are joined by philosopher Peter Rollins to discuss nihilism, despair, anger, and depression, and they answer the following questions:

How are nihilism and minimalism related? (02:57)

Is Fight Club’s Tyler Durden an example of nihilism? (05:33)

What did Nietzsche mean by the “death of God”? (07:11)

What started the recent rise in nihilism? (10:58)

Is anger merely unrealized expectations? (12:21)

What is the “belief through the other”? (17:22)

How do you define “fundamentalism”? (18:32)

Are nihilism and pessimism the same perspective? (19:03)

How do we overcome pessimism? (20:24)

What would cause someone to become a nihilist? (21:38)

Why did Nietzsche believe we must all experience the death of God? (23:25)

What is “dialectics”? (24:15)

How do I help myself and my children adequately recover and move on after the death of their father ‬and the disintegration of my second marriage? (26:36)

What are “beta-elements”? (29:27)

What is an “alpha function”? (29:45)

What is your perspective regarding “symptoms”? (30:47)

What is the value of a psychotherapist for those of us struggling with issues? (31:04)

How do you find new meaning in life when the meaning you wanted is no longer an option? (33:21)

How do you define “depression”? (34:11)

What is the “object cause of desire”? (33:54)

How do you define “love”? (36:59)

How do you address a void? (40:24)

Why do you consider Los Angeles the most religious place in the world? (43:12)

What is “leveling”? (49:33)

What is the difference between a problem and a mystery? (53:34)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

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