The Eternal Return

Friedrich Nietzsche was a brilliant philosopher, and one of his most interesting ideas was the doctrine of eternal return. According to this doctrine, everything that has ever happened will happen again and again, infinitely, in an endless cycle of time. At first glance, this idea may seem depressing or even nihilistic, but there is a certain beauty in the idea that our lives are not just random events but part of a larger, cosmic pattern.

“The amount of energy in the world is determined and not infinite. Consequently, the number of positions, variations, combinations, and developments of this energy is certainly vast, almost incalculable, but always determined and never infinite.”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed and change is eternal. Hence all that is, was, or will be is just an infinite number of repetitions. The realization of eternal cycles of samsara is nirvana. There are only so many variations that can produce life and consciousness and over aeons, they loop back on themselves.

But how can we relate this idea to our everyday lives, and what can we learn from it? Well, believe it or not, there is a connection between the Nietzschean doctrine of eternal return and procedurally generated rogue-lite RPGs. Let me explain.

In a rogue-lite RPG, the gameplay revolves around a cycle of death and rebirth. You start a new run, make some progress, die, and then start again from the beginning. But the catch is that each new run is procedurally generated, meaning that the levels, enemies, and items are all randomly generated, so no two runs are ever the same.

Almost fractal-like. All variations of the game that can be generated will be explored.

In a rogue-lite RPG, you are constantly reliving the same basic experience - starting a new run and trying to progress as far as possible - but with different challenges each time. This is similar to the Nietzschean idea that we constantly relive the same basic experience - our lives - but with different circumstances, each time as all possible combinations are being explored.

So, what can we learn from this connection? Well, one thing is that the idea of eternal return doesn't have to be depressing. In fact, it can be liberating. If we accept that our lives are part of a larger, cosmic pattern, then we can let go of the idea that we need to achieve some ultimate goal or purpose. Instead, we can focus on the journey itself and enjoy the challenges and experiences that come our way.

In other words:

“Live life in such a way that you will want to live it again. For you will live it again. In everything you do, ask this: Is this a thing I would like to do for eternity?”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Furthermore, the idea of eternal return can help us to embrace the impermanence of life. In a rogue-lite RPG, you know that no matter how far you progress in a run, you will eventually die and have to start again. Similarly, in life, we know that no matter how much we achieve or accumulate, we will eventually die and have to start again - whether that means being reborn in another life or simply returning to the eternal cycle of existence.

So, what can we do with this knowledge? Well, for one thing, we can approach life with a sense of humor and irony. Just like in a rogue-lite RPG, we know that we will inevitably fail and have to start again, so why not enjoy the process and laugh at our mistakes? After all, as Nietzsche said, "The thought of the eternal return is a terrifying thought, and yet it is also a joyful thought!"

The Nietzschean doctrine of eternal return may seem like a daunting and abstract concept, but it has practical applications in our everyday lives. By embracing the idea that our lives are part of a larger, cosmic pattern, we can let go of the need for ultimate purpose and enjoy the journey itself. And by approaching life with humor and irony, we can find joy in the inevitable failures and setbacks that come our way. So, whether you're playing a rogue-lite RPG or just living your life, remember that you are part of the eternal return - and that's something to celebrate!

And if you think that it is not something to celebrate, this also gives you a new quest - make it so. Make it so that if you would have to live it again, it would be a pleasurable experience. Or at least not a painful one.