The Intersection of Longing, Separation, and Philosophy: Saudade, Mizpah, Nihilism, and Objectivism
By
Dr.
Pooyan
Ghamari,
Swiss
Visionary
Human
emotions,
complex
and
multifaceted,
often
bring
us
face-to-face
with
paradoxes,
especially
when
it
comes
to
feelings
of
longing
and
loss.
These
universal
emotions
ignite
an
unending
quest
for
meaning—a
drive
to
find
purpose
in
what
can
seem
like
an
indifferent
or
uncaring
universe.
Terms
like
saudade
and
Mizpah
evoke
the
emotional
depth
of
separation
and
hope,
while
philosophical
perspectives
such
as
nihilism
and
objectivism
offer
distinctive
frameworks
for
interpreting
and
responding
to
these
emotional
experiences.
Though
they
may
appear
unrelated
at
first,
these
concepts
converge
in
their
exploration
of
how
humans
create
meaning,
cope
with
loss,
and
pursue
what
matters
most.
Saudade:
The
Profound
Longing
for
What
is
Lost
The
Portuguese
term
saudade
is
one
of
great
emotional
complexity,
signifying
a
deep,
almost
ineffable
longing
for
something
or
someone
absent.
It
embodies
a
nostalgia
infused
with
both
sorrow
and
beauty—a
yearning
that
extends
beyond
what
has
been
lost
to
include
a
deeper
connection
that
endures
through
time
and
distance.
Saudade
represents “the
love
that
lingers,”
a
love
that
time
or
separation
cannot
diminish,
reflecting
the
profound
depth
of
human
attachment
and
our
capacity
to
treasure
memories
and
hopes
that
sustain
us.
Unlike
ordinary
nostalgia,
which
looks
wistfully
to
the
past,
saudade
is
an
active
form
of
longing—a
sense
of
incompleteness
that
drives
us
to
seek
reconnection.
This
term
implies
that
a
part
of
us
remains
bound
to
a
moment
in
the
past
or
to
a
distant
relationship,
creating
a
bittersweet
emotional
state
that
encompasses
both
the
pain
of
separation
and
the
beauty
of
remembrance.
Saudade
reminds
us
that
longing
is
not
just
about
what
is
absent
but
also
a
reflection
of
the
values
and
connections
we
hold
dear.
Mizpah:
A
Beacon
of
Hope
Amid
Separation
Mizpah,
rooted
in
Hebrew
tradition,
shares
common
ground
with
saudade
in
its
recognition
of
emotional
separation.
However,
Mizpah
goes
beyond
the
mere
acknowledgment
of
distance,
representing
hope
and
the
promise
of
future
reunion.
It
symbolizes
a
connection
that
transcends
physical
separation,
holding
the
belief
that
even
though
paths
diverge,
the
bond
between
individuals
remains
strong,
awaiting
renewal.
Mizpah
is
more
than
a
heartfelt
goodbye;
it
is
a
conscious
and
deliberate
commitment
to
the
values
and
ties
that
unite
two
people
or
entities.
In
moments
of
parting,
Mizpah
serves
as
a
source
of
hope,
accepting
the
reality
of
separation
while
refusing
to
succumb
to
despair.
It
transforms
physical
distance
into
a
promise—a
spiritual
and
emotional
pledge
that
distance
is
temporary.
In
this
way,
Mizpah
reframes
the
longing
encapsulated
by
saudade,
transforming
it
from
a
pure
expression
of
loss
into
a
dynamic
blend
of
past,
present,
and
future
grounded
in
faith
and
commitment.
Nihilism:
Confronting
Meaninglessness
Nihilism,
a
philosophy
often
misunderstood,
suggests
that
life
is
inherently
devoid
of
meaning
or
purpose.
On
the
surface,
nihilism
may
seem
to
conflict
with
the
emotional
richness
of
saudade
or
the
hopeful
anticipation
of
Mizpah.
However,
nihilism
does
not
reject
these
feelings;
instead,
it
challenges
the
assumption
that
they
carry
inherent
meaning.
It
forces
us
to
confront
the
uncomfortable
truth
that
the
universe
does
not
cater
to
our
emotional
needs
nor
does
it
provide
a
preordained
purpose
for
our
existence.
While
this
existential
void
can
seem
unsettling,
it
also
offers
us
the
freedom
to
break
free
from
the
illusion
of
externally
imposed
meaning.
In
embracing
this
void,
we
gain
the
autonomy
to
create
our
own
values
and
purpose.
In
this
way,
nihilism
offers
a
foundation
for
the
emotional
experiences
of
saudade
and
Mizpah.
The
very
fact
that
we
feel
saudade—a
deep
yearning
for
something
cherished—illustrates
our
capacity
to
define
meaning
for
ourselves.
When
we
invoke
Mizpah,
we
assert
a
personal
commitment,
defying
the
indifference
of
the
universe.
In
a
world
that
nihilism
reveals
to
be
devoid
of
intrinsic
meaning,
we
have
the
power
to
proclaim, “This
connection
is
important
to
me,”
demonstrating
that
meaning
is
a
product
of
our
own
creation.
Objectivism:
Building
Meaning
Through
Self-Creation
While
nihilism
strips
away
illusions
of
inherent
purpose,
objectivism,
a
philosophy
developed
by
Ayn
Rand,
reintroduces
meaning
through
reason
and
the
pursuit
of
rational
self-interest.
Objectivism
posits
that
reality
is
objective,
and
our
highest
moral
aim
is
to
seek
our
own
rational
self-interest.
Within
this
framework,
emotions
like
saudade
and
concepts
like
Mizpah
become
reflections
of
our
deeply
held
values,
formed
by
our
own
choices
and
rationality.
In
the
objectivist
perspective,
saudade
is
not
an
arbitrary
or
externally
imposed
emotion,
but
rather
a
recognition
of
the
values
we
have
consciously
chosen.
We
experience
saudade
for
people,
places,
or
experiences
that
align
with
our
personal
sense
of
what
is
meaningful.
It
is
a
testament
to
our
ability
to
value
and
pursue
happiness,
acknowledging
that
our
longing
reflects
our
self-created
principles.
Saudade
becomes
an
affirmation
of
the
hierarchy
of
our
values,
demonstrating
what
we
hold
dear
and
why.
Similarly,
Mizpah
within
an
objectivist
lens
is
not
merely
a
hopeful
farewell
but
an
intentional
act
of
commitment.
When
parting
with
the
invocation
of
Mizpah,
we
are
not
passively
leaving
the
future
to
chance;
instead,
we
are
making
a
rational
decision
to
maintain
the
connection,
honoring
a
bond
that
aligns
with
our
chosen
values.
It
represents
an
active
engagement
with
relationships
and
goals
that
we
deem
worthy
of
our
pursuit,
emphasizing
the
role
of
personal
choice
in
constructing
meaning.
The
Convergence
of
Emotion
and
Philosophy
At
first
glance,
the
poetic
longing
of
saudade
and
the
hopeful
promise
of
Mizpah
may
seem
in
opposition
to
the
stark
realism
of
nihilism
and
the
self-interested
rationality
of
objectivism.
However,
these
concepts
are
all
part
of
a
broader
inquiry
into
how
we,
as
individuals,
navigate
a
world
that
offers
no
inherent
meaning
or
guarantees.
Together,
they
challenge
us
to
recognize
the
power
of
our
choices
in
shaping
a
life
that
is
truly
our
own.
-
Saudade
encapsulates
the
emotional
depth
of
our
attachments,
showing
how
profoundly
we
value
our
relationships
and
experiences.
Even
in
absence,
what
we
treasure
continues
to
shape
our
sense
of
self
and
purpose. -
Mizpah
turns
separation
into
an
act
of
hope,
suggesting
that
bonds
are
not
merely
tied
to
physical
presence
but
are
sustained
by
the
values
we
hold,
reflecting
the
strength
of
our
commitments. -
Nihilism
frees
us
from
the
assumption
that
life’s
meaning
is
handed
to
us.
By
accepting
the
existential
void,
we
gain
the
freedom
to
construct
our
own
narrative,
choosing
which
connections
and
pursuits
are
worthy
of
our
time
and
effort. -
Objectivism
encourages
us
to
actively
build
a
life
that
aligns
with
our
self-defined
values.
It
asserts
that
the
longing
felt
in
saudade
and
the
hope
expressed
in
Mizpah
are
not
random
emotions
but
are
deeply
tied
to
our
rational
pursuit
of
a
meaningful
existence.
Creating
Meaning
in
an
Uncaring
Universe
Together,
these
ideas
form
a
mosaic
of
the
human
experience.
Saudade
leads
us
into
the
emotional
depths
of
our
connections,
while
Mizpah
offers
hope
and
continuity
even
in
the
face
of
separation.
Nihilism
liberates
us
to
question
and
redefine
what
truly
matters,
and
objectivism
empowers
us
to
pursue
our
chosen
values
with
clarity
and
purpose.
By
embracing
these
philosophical
intersections,
we
learn
that
longing,
loss,
hope,
and
commitment
are
not
imposed
upon
us
by
an
indifferent
universe.
Rather,
they
are
constructs
of
our
own
minds
and
hearts,
shaped
by
the
meanings
we
choose
to
create.
To
feel
saudade
is
to
express
our
human
capacity
for
love,
memory,
and
value.
To
invoke
Mizpah
is
to
assert
our
will
to
sustain
our
connections.
While
nihilism
teaches
us
that
the
universe
owes
us
nothing,
objectivism
shows
that
we
owe
it
to
ourselves
to
decide
what
is
worth
striving
for.
In
the
end,
the
love
that
persists,
the
promise
of
reunion,
the
embrace
of
the
void,
and
the
pursuit
of
our
values
all
reveal
one
powerful
truth:
the
profound
freedom
to
create
our
own
meaning
and
define
our
path
in
an
otherwise
indifferent
world.
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