life-philosophy
Explanation
The Joke
A girl asks a man how he finds meaning in a cosmos that seems indifferent to human life. He replies that he is a "chauvinistic presentist." He then explains his philosophy: for most of human history, life was marked by sickness, sorrow, war, and pestilence. And in the near future, human life will end entirely as we are either killed by or assimilated into machines. He concludes that since the past was terrible and the future will be terrible, the present must be outstanding by comparison -- "Sucks to be you, future and past!"
In the final panel, the girl objects that you cannot base an entire philosophy of life around Schadenfreude (pleasure derived from others' suffering). The man responds, "Are you familiar with any Abrahamic religion?" -- implying that major world religions also derive comfort from the suffering or damnation of non-believers.
The Humor
The comic works on multiple levels. First, there is the absurdity of constructing an optimistic worldview entirely out of pessimism about every other time period -- a logical structure that is technically valid but emotionally perverse. The term "chauvinistic presentist" is a funny invented academic label for what amounts to "I feel good because everyone else has it worse."
The punchline about Abrahamic religions lands as a sharp satirical jab, suggesting that mainstream religion similarly derives comfort from a framework where most of humanity (past sinners, future damned) suffers. It is a characteristic Weinersmith move: building an elaborate philosophical joke and then detonating it with a provocative comparison to religion.
References
- Schadenfreude is a German loanword meaning pleasure derived from another person's misfortune. It is a well-studied concept in psychology.
- Presentism in philosophy of history refers to the tendency to interpret past events in terms of modern values. Here it is used in a playful, literal sense -- chauvinism about the present era.
- Karl Weierstrass and the concept of technological singularity (machines ending or assimilating humanity) are common SMBC themes.