Fatalism: The Philosophy of Netflix and Napping
We’ve all found ourselves mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, lost in the endless stream of posts, without considering how those dopamine hits might be shaping our future. Or perhaps you’ve spent an entire weekend binge-watching Netflix, telling yourself it’s just a “break” from the chaos of life. But what happens when the time spent on these activities outweighs the time devoted to achieving your goals? At what point does it stop being a break and start becoming a sign that you’re not truly investing in your future? Or is it just your subconscious telling you to not put in active efforts because your future is already written?
Now, imagine a more extreme scenario: Your father lies on a hospital bed, urgently needing medication, but instead of attending to him, you decide to take a nap. The result? His death. And when you learn of it, you think to yourself, “Does it really matter? He was destined to die tonight, and nothing I did would have changed that.” This moment illustrates how fatalism — the belief that everything is preordained — can shape our actions — or lack thereof. It creates a sense of paralysis, making us question whether our choices really matter. This is the existential dilemma posed by fatalism: Do we truly control our destinies, or is everything already written?
Fatalism, the view that everything is fixed in advance, plays out in many of our daily decisions, shaping the way we engage with life. It can either paralyze us into inaction or drive us to take control, ironically motivating us to work toward better outcomes. The core belief in fatalism is that our efforts cannot change our fate. But why do people hold onto this belief when there’s no concrete evidence to support it?
For many, fatalism offers relief from the pressure of making decisions. Believing that life’s outcomes are predetermined reduces the anxiety of having to make “the right” choices, since they assume their actions won’t alter the course of events. For example, if you believe that whether you go to the gym or not, your health will remain the same, there’s less drive to take action. This mindset can also diminish feelings of guilt or regret when things go wrong, as people may believe that failure was simply inevitable. Fatalism, in this way, offers comfort by attributing life’s unpredictability to an external force, providing a sense of resignation rather than resistance.
To understand fatalism better, we must contrast it with determinism and free will. Determinism argues that every event is caused by preceding factors, but it doesn’t imply that outcomes are unchangeable. In contrast, fatalism asserts that certain outcomes are unavoidable, regardless of human actions. Free will, however, emphasizes individual agency and choice, asserting that people can actively shape their destinies.
When people feel their choices are heavily influenced by external forces, such as societal norms or family expectations, they often adopt a fatalistic outlook. It can feel as though their decisions aren’t their own but rather dictated by a script written by society or their family. This sense of powerlessness grows over time, especially in environments where external pressures dominate one’s actions. If everything seems predetermined by these outside forces, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “Why bother trying to change anything? It’s all part of a larger plan beyond my control.”
Fatalistic themes appear in many cultures and religions. In Hinduism, the concept of karma ties fate to past actions, leading people to accept their current situation as the result of past lives’ deeds. In many African belief systems, ancestral spirits and deities are believed to influence the course of human life, reinforcing the idea that individuals are subject to forces beyond their control.
In times of catastrophe, when change feels out of reach, fatalism can provide comfort. However, when individuals have the capacity to act, fatalism often leads to significant drawbacks. It promotes passivity, hindering personal growth and the pursuit of meaningful change. For example, someone born into poverty might refrain from trying to improve their circumstances because they believe their fate is predetermined. This results in stagnation and a lack of motivation.
Fatalism fosters a sense of helplessness, where challenges seem insurmountable or inevitable. Rather than confronting obstacles with determination, fatalism encourages passivity, perpetuating a cycle of inaction. This sense of powerlessness can lead to anxiety, depression, and a lack of self-esteem. Even on a societal scale, fatalism can lead to disengagement from political or social responsibilities, as individuals believe their efforts won’t make a difference.
Furthermore, this mindset erodes self-confidence. If everything is predestined, it becomes difficult to trust your judgment or abilities. Over time, this can give rise to nihilism — the belief that life has no inherent meaning or purpose, which can deepen a person’s isolation and sense of emptiness.
Historically, fatalism was more prominent in societies where death and disease were common, and medical knowledge was limited. Ancient Greek mythology, for instance, centered on the concept of Moira — fate — where even gods were bound by fate’s dictates. Similarly, Stoic philosophers like Epictetus taught the acceptance of fate as a path to peace. In Indian philosophy, the Ājīvikas promoted strict determinism, claiming that all events were predestined, and individuals had no ability to escape their fate.
Having explored the many facets of fatalism — the why, the how, and the impact — it’s clear that the question of fate versus free will doesn’t have a simple answer. Personally, I’m conflicted about whether our futures are truly determined. However, what I know for certain is that fatalism should not lead to inaction.
Instead, our response to fatalism should be one of effort and commitment, regardless of the outcome. We should focus on doing our best, without becoming overly attached to specific results. Life doesn’t unfold by waiting for things to happen — it’s about showing up, taking responsibility, and giving our best effort, regardless of what the future may hold. Fatalism may offer comfort in times of uncertainty, but it should never become an excuse to avoid taking action.
So, next time you find yourself mindlessly watching Netflix or taking a nap, see it as an opportunity to recharge — not as an escape from the work you know you need to do. While some aspects of life are beyond our control, how we respond to those things shapes our journey. The power of choice lies within us, and through our actions — no matter how small — we continue to define who we are and where we are headed.
