But I think I relate to the world with some kind of “existential positive” all the same—and I’ve tried to explain how doing so can be compatible with looking “bad things are bad” in the eye, and without reducing spirituality to population ethics. In particular, I’ve tried to point at the possible role of stuff like mother love, loyalty, innocence, tragedy, and forgiveness.
On further thought, this reminds me a bit of (seemingly successful) efforts in Chinese history to transfer people’s feelings of spirituality and filial love to the sovereign (君), by likening the sovereign to a god and/or parent, or directly claiming such status. Of course the aim or motivation here is much more benign, but that example shows that peoples’ feelings can be wrong “out of distribution”, and we should perhaps be suspicious or skeptical of trying to apply our emotions outside of their original domains.
On further thought, this reminds me a bit of (seemingly successful) efforts in Chinese history to transfer people’s feelings of spirituality and filial love to the sovereign (君), by likening the sovereign to a god and/or parent, or directly claiming such status. Of course the aim or motivation here is much more benign, but that example shows that peoples’ feelings can be wrong “out of distribution”, and we should perhaps be suspicious or skeptical of trying to apply our emotions outside of their original domains.