Senior Project Advisor

Tristan Goldman

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2021

Keywords

Realization, spirituality, meaning, Fractal, existential, philosophy, literature

Abstract

The following project is the beginnings of my formal exploration into the existential and spiritual natures of our world, via story. Postmodernism has brought the importance of subjectivity to the forefront of academia, but it has also brought nihilism and secularism. If God is dead, what purpose is there to go on? If subjectivity is unavoidable and possibly at the foundation of existence, what does that mean for truth?

Some intellectuals have tried to fill these existential holes with new philosophical inquiries such as existentialism, absurdism, and effective altruism. Some intellectuals accuse postmodernism of destroying morality, advocating we return back to how things have always been. Some intellectuals don't give any answer. Sometimes they outright refuse to give one, as to do so would inherently be lying.

To some degree, I have tried all these methods, and found only dead ends which lead to despair. I continued on, trying to find an answer to our nihilistic reality. What I have based my stories off of are the answers. Most surprisingly, I didn't find my answers in some radical new idea, but in ancient wisdom--as old as humanity; as old as the universe.

Department

English

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Philosophical literature--Fiction; Fractals--Fiction

Genre/Form

short stories

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Download

Share

COinS