"To the dumb question, why me? The cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: 'Why not.'"
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Christopher Hitchens' quote, "To the dumb concern, why me? The universes hardly troubles to return the reply: 'Why not,'" invites a deep exploration of human presence and the randomness of life events. At its core, this declaration addresses the natural human tendency to question one's suffering or bad luck-- asking, "Why me?" when confronted with hardship. Hitchens, known for his candid and in some cases provocative viewpoints, recommends that such questioning is ultimately useless in the grand scheme of deep space.
The expression "the dumb question, why me?" challenges the concept that life is expected to be reasonable, or that individuals are in some way singled out by fate for particular trials. Hitchens implies that posturing this question presumes a sense of privilege or expectation that life should adhere to a rational or simply order, a concept that he dismisses as naïve or misguided.
His assertion that "the cosmos hardly bothers to return the reply: 'Why not'", reflects a philosophical viewpoint lined up with existentialism. It suggests that deep space is indifferent to our individual struggles. The cosmos, large and impersonal, does not run with ethical intent or particular targeting of people. Hitchens' use of "barely bothers" further stresses the insignificance of our individual grievances in the face of deep space's vast, indifferent existence.
This perspective can be both liberating and discouraging. On one hand, it liberates individuals from the concern of seeking meaning or cosmic justice in their suffering, acknowledging that randomness plays a significant role in life. On the other hand, this view can be challenging, as it removes away comforting beliefs in divine plans or cosmic fairness.
In summary, Hitchens' quote difficulties readers to accept the approximate nature of presence. It encourages a stoic approval of life's inherent unpredictability and randomness, prompting a concentrate on how we respond to life's obstacles instead of questioning why they take place.
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