"The Cult of Kefka" -- Nihilism as a Spectrum -- How Nihilism Can Turn Destructive

(Directory on Nihilism: https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-irony-of-nihilism)

(Directory on Religion: How Religion and Democracy Struggle)

(Villainy/Anti-Villainy Directory)

Article Synopsis by Mr. John Igwe and Co.

The article "The Cult of Kefka: Nihilism as a Spectrum" explores the concept of nihilism using the character Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI as an allegorical example.

Mr. Tomasio uses pop culture to make the topic more accessible and engaging for readers unfamiliar with philosophical texts. The term "Genocidal Nihilism" is introduced to clearly define a specific and extreme form of nihilism, helping to understand its dangerous potential.

The article presents nihilism as a spectrum, acknowledging that not all nihilists are extreme or dangerous. It thoughtfully explores the oxymoronic nature of a nihilistic religion, highlighting the inherent contradictions in Kefka's cult.

The discussion on the open-mindedness of philosophers versus the potential dogmatism in religious or ideological beliefs is insightful, encouraging readers to think critically about their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.

In conclusion, the article is a compelling exploration of extreme nihilism through the lens of a fictional character. The use of Kefka Palazzo as an allegory is a creative and effective method to discuss these themes, making complex philosophical ideas accessible to a broader audience.

(Background music)

Introductory Disclaimer

By using the example of a certain video game character called Kefka Palazzo, I will try and show you how an extreme variant of nihilism can actually be very deadly. The term I use, "Genocidal Nihilism", is a term I made in order to define a form of purpose-defying belief that attempts to justify stuff like genocide, omnicide (the destruction of everything), and so on.

Take this article as a way of me trying to explain, through an allegory, why extreme nihilism is bad and even dangerous for humanity as a whole.

As usual and unless stated otherwise, I refer to video games as mediums to tell a story, so you can regard them as equal to a book, a play, and so on.

No knowledge of gaming is required to understand most of my articles where I refer to story-driven video games. Like with every article, feel free to ask for clarification if needed.

Exposing and Confronting the Monster

Kefka Palazzo is the main antagonist of the game "Final Fantasy VI" that was released in the 90s. He is essentially a psychotic clown and a warlord who actually managed to win as a villain by taking over the world, only to be defeated around a year later. It is similar to Scar from the Lion King.

In his last period of reign, he attempted to destroy his domain simply because he deemed life too meaningless to continue any further. Not only his own life, but all lives.

"I will destroy everything! I will create a monument to non-existence!" -- Kefka

Intermission: Exploring the Nihilistic Spectrum

This isn't to say that every nihilist will become suffering, let alone genocidal or omnicidal. That's why I regard nihilism as a spectrum, defined by deeds that were actually done because of one's nihilistic beliefs. The philosophy in question doesn't have to be a harbinger of doom. Many nihilists lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, even if they don't subscribe to some cosmic purpose.

American poet Charles Bukowski wrote in a novel of his:

“I was drawn to all the wrong things: I liked to drink, I was lazy, I didn't have a god, politics, ideas, ideals. I was settled into nothingness; a kind of non-being, and I accepted it.

I didn't make for an interesting person. I didn't want to be interesting, it was too hard. What I really wanted was only a soft, hazy space to live in, and to be left alone. On the other hand, when I got drunk I screamed, went crazy, got all out of hand. One kind of behavior didn't fit the other. I didn't care.” -- "Women"

This struggle between the individual and society, between expectation of development and desire for stagnation, highlights the complexities of the nihilistic spectrum. While many "lowlife nihilists", like Bukowski, find a way to create a fulfilling life despite the absence of inherent meaning, it doesn't erase the potential for nihilism to manifest in more destructive ways on the other end of the spectrum.

Paradox: Nihilism as "Reason"

At least in fiction, where the nihilist villain "attributes meaning" to his or her ideology, by weaponizing it against others. Isn't it paradoxical, to use the lack of meaning as reason for an action one deems valuable enough to pursue? The "value" of their meaninglessness becomes an active force in the world when used to gain power and use that power as a weapon.

Kefka here didn't care not only for his own significance but for the world's as well, so he was convinced by his nihilism to commit destruction with no regard for others, including his own followers.

That is even though nihilism is the rejection of all meaning and value. In short: "Nihilism is attractive because it promises you don’t have to care."

Then why become a mastermind?

The Cracks In The Doomsday Cult

The less reasonable a cult is, the more men seek to establish it by force. -- Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

There is some religious significance within Kefka's story because he managed to win by becoming a god. An occult ritual of sorts ascended him to godhood and made him design the world in his own image. In addition, he also formed a religion or cult under his name, known as "The Cult of Kefka," a secret society of fanatical cultists who sold their lives to their founder.

This is a very strange scenario because, in the real world, we usually associate religion with giving meaning to the universe.

The idea of creating a nihilistic religion is very oxymoronic. While I am not religious, I understand why some people value their religions so highly. I wouldn't say there's something wrong with it by itself...

One of the reasons people join collectives and perform religious rituals is to give their existence a purpose. To feel belonging, and find a higher calling. If said meaning is not assigned to their current lifespan, then it is assigned to an afterlife, as presented in some religions such as Christianity and Islam, where the next world is highly desired and prioritized.

Kefka is not only a god in his fictional universe but also an enforcer of his own brand of genocidal nihilism. He could not care less for his zealous followers and would kill them if, for example, he were too bored and needed entertainment at the time. Characters like Strago Magus, after Kefka brought much ruin to the world, simply joined his cult because Kefka's new global reign turned him insane.

Faulty Reason Behind Despair and Destruction

Finding no further reason to go on, Kefka tried to justify his quest for world destruction by seeing nihilism as some cosmic, undeniable truth, so even when the people who resisted him tried to talk it through, the attempt at convincing him was fruitless.

That was his problem — his utter unwillingness to keep an open mind. After all, in his eyes, other perspectives are as useless as his own. He would prefer destroying everything instead.

When you take a philosophy and believe it blindly, you risk treating it in a "religious" sense by looking at it with full bias towards itself. It's the difference between a philosopher and a religious authority, at least sometimes — the honest philosopher may be more open-minded and less biased than a public religious figure.

Kefka Palazzo is a fictional example of how anything can become a source of cultish following, even if that source isn't strictly a religious concept. Be it a religion or something smaller like a cult, the subject does not really matter compared to some people's inclination to follow and/or praise something or someone greater than themselves.

....Many social and corporate entities possess cult-like characteristics. Although less intrusive compared to religious cults, these entities also engage in similar forms of the conversion process.... many business organisations propagate commanding ideologies and cultural values. While providing their employees with a sense of meaning, purpose and belonging, they also require a strict adherence to a set of beliefs. Dissenters are swiftly punished. -- Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

With Kefka's demise by a remnant of dissenters, the story can be seen as the triumph of meaning over oblivion and despair. And with his death, the world was restored to its former glory.

Final Words: Further Insight into Nihilism

Nihilism, the belief that life has no inherent meaning or purpose, can be a complex philosophy. While some might conclude that nihilists are inherently closed-minded, clinging to their beliefs like religious dogma, this view overlooks the spectrum-like of the philosophy itself.

Take Friedrich Nietzsche's famous proclamation, "God is dead." He wasn't suggesting the absence of all meaning, but rather the death of absolute, divinely ordained meaning. In its place, he saw the potential for individuals to create their own values and forge their own purpose. Because, the proclamation is part of a bigger quote...

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

This highlights a crucial point: Just as not all religious followers fit the stereotype of the fanatic, not all nihilists are pessimists who rather burn reality to ashes. Some may find liberation in the absence of external meaning, focusing on creating their own, or living regardless of it.

The comparison to religion offers frameworks for understanding the world, but neither dictates an individual's actions. A Muslim doesn't have to be a terrorist (like in Sufism), a Christian doesn't have to be a missionary, and a Jew's intelligence isn't defined by their religion. The same subtlety goes for nihilism and nihilists.

Ultimately, people are multifaceted beings shaped by experiences and beliefs beyond a single ideology. Nihilists, like everyone else, deserve to be seen as human beings, and not just representatives of a philosophy. Come and exit the tribal bias.