Dude-ism: Laziness Dude-ism: Laziness As A Personal EthosAs A Personal Ethos

Joel and Ethan CohenJoel and Ethan Cohen

““Quite possibly the laziest Quite possibly the laziest man in Los Angeles County”man in Los Angeles County”

4 Tenets of Dude-ism4 Tenets of Dude-ism

Reality is inherently chaotic and Reality is inherently chaotic and purposelesspurposeless

TumbleweedTumbleweed

One should expend effort only One should expend effort only on simple, short-term goalson simple, short-term goals

RugRug

4 Tenets of Dude-ism4 Tenets of Dude-ism

Since one can do very little to Since one can do very little to affect the mixture of good and affect the mixture of good and bad, one should accept life and bad, one should accept life and be content.be content.

““Sometimes you eat the bear”Sometimes you eat the bear”

The purpose of life is to be as The purpose of life is to be as happy as possible in any situationhappy as possible in any situation

Detached amusementDetached amusement

Laziness as a personal Laziness as a personal ethos ethos

““We Believe in Nothing”We Believe in Nothing”

NihilismNihilism

Friedrich Heinrich JacobiFriedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743–1819) (1743–1819)

Friedrich Heinrich JacobiFriedrich Heinrich Jacobi

Critic of Secular Philosophy Critic of Secular Philosophy (Rationalism)(Rationalism)

Knowledge based on rationality Knowledge based on rationality inevitably leads to relativity and inevitably leads to relativity and nihilismnihilism

Advocated for faith in God as Advocated for faith in God as paramount for moralityparamount for morality

3 Tenets of Nihilism3 Tenets of Nihilism

No standards to distinguish right No standards to distinguish right from wrongfrom wrong

Life has no meaning, value, or Life has no meaning, value, or purposepurpose

Truth is mere illusion and ultimate Truth is mere illusion and ultimate knowledge is pointlessknowledge is pointless

““Fair!? Who’s the f*cking Fair!? Who’s the f*cking nihilist around here, you nihilist around here, you

bunch o’ f*cking bunch o’ f*cking crybabies!”crybabies!”

The nihilist values fairness and The nihilist values fairness and moneymoney

Nihilism is untenable Nihilism is untenable

Suicide or delusionSuicide or delusion

Dude-ism vs. NihilismDude-ism vs. Nihilism

He is not delusional or suicidal, he is He is not delusional or suicidal, he is apathetic apathetic

Values are created from what life gives him Values are created from what life gives him a long batha long bath bowlingbowling white russianswhite russians his rughis rug weedweed

““I'll suck your c*ck for a I'll suck your c*ck for a thousand dollars!”thousand dollars!”

HedonismHedonism

Aristippus of Cyrene (435 – Aristippus of Cyrene (435 – 366 BCE)366 BCE)

Aristippus of Cyrene (435 – Aristippus of Cyrene (435 – 366 BCE)366 BCE)

The first of Socrates disciples to The first of Socrates disciples to charge for his teachingcharge for his teaching

Founder of the Cyrenaic school of Founder of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy philosophy

Celebrated sensual delight over Celebrated sensual delight over intellectualintellectual

HedonismHedonism

The body naturally avoids pain and The body naturally avoids pain and seeks pleasureseeks pleasure

Therefore, that which causes pain is Therefore, that which causes pain is morally wrongmorally wrong

That which causes pleasure is That which causes pleasure is morally goodmorally good

““It is called satryiasis in It is called satryiasis in men, nymphomania in men, nymphomania in

women – who engage in sex women – who engage in sex compulsively and without compulsively and without

joy”joy” ExcessExcess

Desensitization and addictionDesensitization and addiction

ExpensiveExpensive

Dude-ism vs. HedonismDude-ism vs. Hedonism

Too apathetic to fall into excessToo apathetic to fall into excess

Derives pleasure from leisureDerives pleasure from leisure

Simple tastes require no money Simple tastes require no money

““The bums will always The bums will always lose!”lose!”

ObjectivismObjectivism

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)

Grew up during the Russian Grew up during the Russian Revolution of 1917Revolution of 1917

Family property and finances Family property and finances confiscated by the Bolsheviksconfiscated by the Bolsheviks

Fountainhead and Atlas ShruggedFountainhead and Atlas Shrugged

ObjectivismObjectivism

Rugged IndividualismRugged Individualism

Man as a heroic being, with productive Man as a heroic being, with productive achievement as his noblest activityachievement as his noblest activity

The individual must exist for his own The individual must exist for his own sake… neither sacrificing himself to sake… neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. others nor sacrificing others to himself.

““My father's weakness is My father's weakness is vanity, hence the slut”vanity, hence the slut”

Self-interest ignores the Self-interest ignores the contributions of otherscontributions of others

Big Lebowski inherited his wealthBig Lebowski inherited his wealth

Steals from the Little Lebowski Steals from the Little Lebowski Urban AchieversUrban Achievers

Dude-ism vs. Objectivism Dude-ism vs. Objectivism

Man as a heroic being, with laziness Man as a heroic being, with laziness as his noblest activityas his noblest activity

Achievement is okay if it happens Achievement is okay if it happens Bowling leagueBowling league

He gets his rugHe gets his rug

““Smokey, this is not ‘Nam. Smokey, this is not ‘Nam. This is bowling. There are This is bowling. There are

rules.”rules.”

Duty-Based MoralityDuty-Based Morality

Immanuel Kant (1724 – Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804)1804)

Immanuel Kant (1724 – Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804)1804)

German PhilosopherGerman Philosopher

Human mind could apprehend an Human mind could apprehend an objective reality outside of human objective reality outside of human experience through reasonexperience through reason

Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Groundwork for the Metaphysic of MoralsMorals

Categorical ImperativeCategorical Imperative

An action is morally good only if An action is morally good only if everyone else should act the same everyone else should act the same wayway

Example: Breaking an oathExample: Breaking an oath

““Over the line!”Over the line!”

““You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an a**hole.”You’re just an a**hole.”

Is everything universalized?Is everything universalized?

Allowing a minor transgression will Allowing a minor transgression will not destroy the bowling leaguenot destroy the bowling league

Duty is work. It is easier to forgive Duty is work. It is easier to forgive

Dude-ism vs. Rule-BasedDude-ism vs. Rule-Based

There are no universals, life just There are no universals, life just happenshappens

Blind adherence to rules causes Blind adherence to rules causes unhappinessunhappiness

Through apathy comes forgivenessThrough apathy comes forgiveness

The virtue of laziness The virtue of laziness

Values something (nihilism)Values something (nihilism)

But not to excesss (hedonism)But not to excesss (hedonism)

And not for individual gain And not for individual gain (objectivism)(objectivism)

Doesn’t expect others to value Doesn’t expect others to value laziness (rule-based morality)laziness (rule-based morality)

Dude-ism: “Takin’ ‘er easy Dude-ism: “Takin’ ‘er easy for us sinners”for us sinners”