Thanos has been hailed by some as the greatest antihero of all time, an example of heroism in an unfair world. But is he really? Let’s find out.
Point 1: Thanos’ quest is not realistic.
Thanos seeks six “Infinity Stones” that will grant him the power to do just about anything, including wipe half of all living things out of existence.
Those who have the greatest hope for the future tend to be those who hold onto the ideal of life after death. The idea that after they die, they will continue to be given opportunities for happiness. There are even those who aren’t very happy that hold onto this idea.
If the idea that life continues (for everyone) after death is true, and that all beings will eventually be given some degree of happiness, then not only is Thanos’ quest pointless, it cannot be. Therefore, it holds no value to the watcher of Infinity War.
But let’s consider other reasons why his quest cannot be.
Point 2: True randomness does not exist.
Humanity, in its search for happiness and understanding, have created a monstrosity called a “computer”. This thing is able to do wonderful things. It can play games. It can show movies. You can read books on it, which thing was not possible for so, so many in history. Now we can download hundreds to a tablet and read on.
But the most noteworthy thing for the sake of this argument is that computers cannot always perfectly predict everything...but on the other hand, it is never fickle. Computers do not experience emotions, and cannot experience natural growth. There is no known “AI” that has shown the traits of humanity, to do things it was not programmed to do.
Every single attempt we have made to create randomness has been completely calculated, in a sense. Every single bit of “randomness” in the universe can be accounted for and taken over, given knowledge and power to act.
So how in the world, with a villain like Thanos, who is given both, could he truly do anything that was random? It seems implied that he knows everything or almost everything. He would be able to account for almost every possibility, if not every one. His power would not be “let to itself”, in one sense. As computers illustrate, power itself cannot make decisions, though it can be left to work in the direction commanded to go. Living creatures make decisions. If power were left to itself, it would do what it was programmed to do in the first place…in the which case, Thanos programmed that power.
Point 3: Randomness in between
Some may note that there is a form of randomness that still exists, in a way.
For while power does not make decisions, there are consequences of actions that are not accounted for, at least not by the person who makes them. Consequences happen, whether they are known or not.
But for Thanos, knowing so much means he knows enough about past, present and future to make decisions that could affect all life in a way that is known, a more positive way. If Thanos was heroic, he would not leave his decimatory actions to chance. He would take action according to the knowledge he had, and leave nothing to chance that he could account for.
One might argue Thanos was delusional and that his delusions defined his actions. But again, being delusional means he does not understand his power...therefore, not being able to fully wield it and, where he lacks the understanding needed to use it, not able to use it in the first place.
Conclusion:
Thanos cannot be a hero or a villain, and not because he doesn’t exist. Thanos cannot be a hero or a villain because he cannot exist. He therefore lacks the certain literary quality that makes so, so many heroes or villains worthy of study.
In other words, it is not worth trying to figure out the whys of what Thanos did. He could not have done what he could have done, let alone for the the right or wrong reasons.
For an interesting counterpoint to Thanos, I’d recommend studying Dalinar Kholin from “The Stormlight Archive” series. A layered character, he delights in conquest, but learns things from life that he would have rather left in the past...but later on, he is forced to face up to them despite his efforts to leave them in the past. Thanos has been hailed by some as the greatest antihero of all time, an example of heroism in an unfair world. But is he really? Let’s find out.
Point 1: Thanos’ quest is not realistic.
Thanos seeks six “Infinity Stones” that will grant him the power to do just about anything, including wipe half of all living things out of existence.
Those who have the greatest hope for the future tend to be those who hold onto the ideal of life after death. The idea that after they die, they will continue to be given opportunities for happiness. There are even those who aren’t very happy that hold onto this idea.
If the idea that life continues (for everyone) after death is true, and that all beings will eventually be given some degree of happiness, then not only is Thanos’ quest pointless, it cannot be. Therefore, it holds no value to the watcher of Infinity War.
But let’s consider other reasons why his quest cannot be.
Point 2: True randomness does not exist.
Humanity, in its search for happiness and understanding, have created a monstrosity called a “computer”. This thing is able to do wonderful things. It can play games. It can show movies. You can read books on it, which thing was not possible for so, so many in history. Now we can download hundreds to a tablet and read on.
But the most noteworthy thing for the sake of this argument is that computers cannot always perfectly predict everything...but on the other hand, it is never fickle. Computers do not experience emotions, and cannot experience natural growth. There is no known “AI” that has shown the traits of humanity, to do things it was not programmed to do.
Every single attempt we have made to create randomness has been completely calculated, in a sense. Every single bit of “randomness” in the universe can be accounted for and taken over, given knowledge and power to act.
So how in the world, with a villain like Thanos, who is given both, could he truly do anything that was random? It seems implied that he knows everything or almost everything. He would be able to account for almost every possibility, if not every one. His power would not be “let to itself”, in one sense. As computers illustrate, power itself cannot make decisions, though it can be left to work in the direction commanded to go. Living creatures make decisions. If power were left to itself, it would do what it was programmed to do in the first place…in the which case, Thanos programmed that power.
Point 3: Randomness in between
Some may note that there is a form of randomness that still exists, in a way.
For while power does not make decisions, there are consequences of actions that are not accounted for, at least not by the person who makes them. Consequences happen, whether they are known or not.
But for Thanos, knowing so much means he knows enough about past, present and future to make decisions that could affect all life in a way that is known, a more positive way. If Thanos was heroic, he would not leave his decimatory actions to chance. He would take action according to the knowledge he had, and leave nothing to chance that he could account for.
One might argue Thanos was delusional and that his delusions defined his actions. But again, being delusional means he does not understand his power...therefore, not being able to fully wield it and, where he lacks the understanding needed to use it, not able to use it in the first place.
Conclusion:
Thanos cannot be a hero or a villain, and not because he doesn’t exist. Thanos cannot be a hero or a villain because he cannot exist. He therefore lacks the certain literary quality that makes so, so many heroes or villains worthy of study.
In other words, it is not worth trying to figure out the whys of what Thanos did. He could not have done what he could have done, let alone for the the right or wrong reasons.
For an interesting counterpoint to Thanos, I’d recommend studying Dalinar Kholin from “The Stormlight Archive” series. A layered character, he delights in conquest, but learns things from life that he would have rather left in the past...but later on, he is forced to face up to them despite his efforts to leave them in the past. |
User Notice 
Divine Aurora is Offline
| ID: 1357046 | 222 Words
Divine Aurora is Offline
patar4097 is Offline
| ID: 1357095 | 4 Words
patar4097 is Offline
legacyme3 is Offline
| ID: 1357098 | 12 Words
legacyme3 is Offline
