Synopsis:
Rust Cohle’s pessimistic philosophy completely deconstructs the notion of legacy. Whether through family, professional accomplishments, or societal impact, he sees all efforts to leave a mark as futile attempts to avoid confronting the bleak reality of existence. Legacy, to him, is merely another comforting lie humans tell themselves in a meaningless world.
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About Turlough Rafferty
Turlough Rafferty is a technologist based in the West of Ireland. He assists business start-ups and scale ups. Interests include digital technology, new space and the bioeconomy.
Contacting Turlough Rafferty:
By Turlough Rafferty
Rust Cohle is a fictional character from True Detective (Season 1), portrayed by Matthew McConaughey. He is a former detective with a dark, brooding demeanor and a deeply philosophical worldview. Throughout the series, Cohle articulates a grim, nihilistic perspective on life, influenced by existential pessimism and anti-natalism. His philosophy drives much of his behavior, dialogue, and approach to the investigations in the show. In stark contrast to traditional heroic or moralistic characters, Cohle embraces a worldview where life is devoid of meaning, and suffering is an inescapable part of existence.
Cohle’s pessimistic worldview reflects the influence of philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, and this deeply affects how he views the concept of legacy—which he dismisses as an illusory comfort.
Rust Cohle’s philosophy has a profound impact on the concept of legacy, which he dismisses as yet another human illusion created to cope with the meaninglessness of life. For Cohle, legacy—whether through family, achievements, or societal contributions—represents a misguided attempt to extend one’s influence or presence into the future. Here’s how his philosophy interacts with this idea:
Legacy as an Illusion of Meaning:
Cohle views legacy as a product of human vanity. People seek to leave a lasting mark because they cannot accept the transient nature of their existence. In his eyes, the desire for legacy is driven by a refusal to acknowledge the eventual insignificance of all human efforts. This is aligned with his broader belief that life, and by extension anything built or passed on, is inherently meaningless.
“The world needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door.”
This quote reflects how Cohle views human pursuits, including legacy, as forms of distraction from life’s darker truths. Legacy is simply another form of self-deception.
Determinism Undermines Legacy:
Cohle’s deterministic worldview, where “time is a flat circle,” suggests that nothing new ever truly happens. If everything repeats endlessly, then the notion of leaving a unique or lasting legacy is meaningless. In this view, individual achievements or family lines do not stand out—they are merely part of a repetitive cycle with no real impact on the larger, indifferent universe.
Anti-Natalism and Legacy:
As an anti-natalist, Cohle believes that bringing new life into the world is morally problematic because it subjects future generations to the same suffering. This directly opposes the traditional idea of legacy, where people see their children or descendants as a way of continuing their personal or familial influence. For Cohle, the continuation of life through procreation is not a source of pride or meaning but an extension of suffering.
“I think the honorable thing for our species to do is deny our programming, stop reproducing, walk hand in hand into extinction.”
This stark rejection of life’s perpetuation means that Cohle views the desire for legacy through children or future generations as not just futile, but harmful.
Cynicism Toward Social or Professional Legacy
Even professional achievements, such as creating a lasting impact on society or leaving behind great works, are seen by Cohle as hollow. In his worldview, any perceived value or lasting effect is temporary and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Cohle’s nihilism undercuts the idea that one’s work or contributions can meaningfully affect the future, as everything eventually fades or repeats without significance.
In summary, Rust Cohle’s pessimistic philosophy completely deconstructs the notion of legacy. Whether through family, professional accomplishments, or societal impact, he sees all efforts to leave a mark as futile attempts to avoid confronting the bleak reality of existence. Legacy, to him, is merely another comforting lie humans tell themselves in a meaningless world.
