Schematic overview: contingency

StanceCausalityChaosFlow
SummaryEverything happens for the best, in accord with the Cosmic Plan. (Except free will lets us do evil.)The universe is random; nothing happens for any particular reasonThere are no ultimate causes, and causation is nebulous, but we naturally observe patterns
What it deniesPointless sufferingInterpretability
What it fixatesReasons[Nothing]
The sales pitchThere is no need to suffer, so long as you conform to the Cosmic Plan[This is a hard sell ] God is dead. Dance with reality
Emotional appealCan pretend there is no pointless suffering[This may be only a theoretical possibility]
Pattern of thinkingKitschDespairRealism
Likely next stancesEternalism, religiosityNihilism, secularism
AccomplishmentPollyanna, CandideLa Nausé (Sartre)Maximal ability to influence events, without attachment to outcome
How it causes sufferingDenying pointless suffering makes it hard to alleviate[Theoretically, inability to take practical action]
Obstacles to maintaining the stanceObviousness of pointless suffering (our own and others’)Obviousness of causalityNo guarantees
Antidotes; counter-thoughtsLots of stuff just happens[Probably not necessary]
Intelligent aspectThings often do make senseThings often are inherently uninterpretable
Positive appropriation after resolutionPoints toward pragmatic competencePoints toward comfort with uncertainty

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This page is in the section ⚒︎ Contingency,
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