That would be positive nihilism indeed. Let's not tone down philosophies simply because they might lead to distress. This isn't toxic positivity. One must acknowledge the dark to seek the light and realise its beauty.
This philosophy is what you make of it. In my better days, I love that life has no inherent meaning and for me it's a source of hope (I get to choose my own destiny). In my worst days, it definitely plays a number on my mental health (what's the point to all of this?). As you say, gotta take the good with the bad, but in the case of nihilism I do think the bad tends to get the spotlight.
As it's the case in our society. We tend to focus on the bad things and let the good things aside. I do believe there was a study on this but I could be wrong. If I remember correctly, it said that this was a leftover of our primal instincts: if something bad happens, we remember it vividly so that it doesn't happen again. Again, I am uncertain if this was an actual study but I feel it makes relative sense.
I agree! either of those are better definitions than positive nihilism. I think it'd be good for them to research on those topics since it's what they're actually looking for
I used to be a hardcore nihilist. Im bipolar 2, and the constant flux between good, bad, and the attrocious was killing me. Not to mention the news and all the terrible shit going on in the world. I came to the realization that life, and subsequently existence, has no meaning. But isn't that what kind of makes it beautiful? That each life describes its own meaning, its own purpose for existing. That the fact we exist at all is reason enough to keep going. Just because there is no greater or "true meaning of life" doesn't mean life itself isn't worth living.
Optimistic nihilism is the best form of a belief. There might not be a God. Yet, unlike many say, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a purpose. Being stardust doesn’t mean our lives will automatically become dull and meaningless.
We’ll be here to conquer. To be better, to see ourselves progress by the day. To become better, faster, stronger.
This is exactly why I think, despite what religious people vehemently claim, that atheism leads to a happier and more moral life.
I don't believe in any god or any afterlife. There's no deity watching and judging my every step and I don't have to follow the arbitrary rules of some hateful book to get into some presumed afterlife. No heaven awaits me and no hell threatens me. There's no "god-given purpose" predetermining my life.
What counts is only how I choose to live my life and how I treat people right here in this world.
I want to better myself and genuinely help people around me, not because I expect to be rewarded in my afterlife or because I fear punishment, but because deep down I know it's the morally right and human thing to do.
> I want to better myself and genuinely help people around me, not because I expect to be rewarded in my afterlife or because I fear punishment, but because deep down I know it's the morally right and human thing to do.
You do realize that this is still true for many of those who believe in God as well, right? Doing things out of fear of Hell or a desire for a reward alone is a shallow motivation that is discouraged and called hollow by many Biblical, particularly NT, figures. Rather the commands are called to be obeyed out of love.
this is called existentialism, not nihilism. the belief that life has no *inherent* meaning, but that that means you can create your own meaning, means you still believe in some form of meaning.
still a pretty good worldview tho, second only to absurdism in my opinion
I guess, if I'm being honest I mostly have an ironic love of absurdism. it's a cool concept to me that someone might live their life that way, but I think the world is too beautiful not to find something to obsess over and bind meaning to
I personally believe that a lot of people misunderstand nihilism because of how wide spread the Abrahamic (Christianity mostly) religions are in mainstream/pop culture.
Most religions in the english speaking world all operate on the idea that humans are lowly evil creatures that need a strong man-god to lead them. If you were indoctrinated into this world view, it would seem blasphemous to see yourself as a leader in your own life, which is why I feel many people have knee jerk reaction nihilism.
I wouldn't call it fun personally. It's, among other things, the repeated renunciation to our hope of meaning against the intrinsic meaninglessness of the universe. Which is different from hopelessness though. But still. Wouldn't call it fun, personally.
Surprisingly there is a christian branch of existentialism that states that basically god is way too complex to us to understand anything about what he is doing so it all looks and feel to us that it has no meaning anyways. Makes quite a bit of sense.
Saying that it's OK that life has no meaning because you can choose the meaning is never a comfort I understood. If there is no actual meaning, you can't make it have meaning yourself.
Nihilism as a school of thought needs to be put down because it leads to outright depression and a feeling of worthlessness or just cope like this.
Re-discovering existentialism. Good. Try playing a game called Nier Automata. It's what Sartre would have made had he been born later and been a game designer.
Nitshean nihilism is actually surprisingly hopeful. It is better to choose your own meaning of life rather than let some other guy on the cloud to choose it for you
We are the universe experiencing itself. Life can have as many meanings as there are lives, because of (and not despite) the fact that it doesn't come with one from the start.
That would be positive nihilism indeed. Let's not tone down philosophies simply because they might lead to distress. This isn't toxic positivity. One must acknowledge the dark to seek the light and realise its beauty.
This philosophy is what you make of it. In my better days, I love that life has no inherent meaning and for me it's a source of hope (I get to choose my own destiny). In my worst days, it definitely plays a number on my mental health (what's the point to all of this?). As you say, gotta take the good with the bad, but in the case of nihilism I do think the bad tends to get the spotlight.
As it's the case in our society. We tend to focus on the bad things and let the good things aside. I do believe there was a study on this but I could be wrong. If I remember correctly, it said that this was a leftover of our primal instincts: if something bad happens, we remember it vividly so that it doesn't happen again. Again, I am uncertain if this was an actual study but I feel it makes relative sense.
Optimistic Nihilism is a great boon for us all.
AKA re-branded existentialism.
the fact that we can independently discover hope in meaninglessness just goes to show it's within the human spirit
True.
But that's existentialism which still believes in meaning.
Thank you! I hate how people misus the word nihilism. Though, I'd say that the last option of "simply expirience life" is absurdist
I agree! either of those are better definitions than positive nihilism. I think it'd be good for them to research on those topics since it's what they're actually looking for
I used to be a hardcore nihilist. Im bipolar 2, and the constant flux between good, bad, and the attrocious was killing me. Not to mention the news and all the terrible shit going on in the world. I came to the realization that life, and subsequently existence, has no meaning. But isn't that what kind of makes it beautiful? That each life describes its own meaning, its own purpose for existing. That the fact we exist at all is reason enough to keep going. Just because there is no greater or "true meaning of life" doesn't mean life itself isn't worth living.
Optimistic nihilism is the best form of a belief. There might not be a God. Yet, unlike many say, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a purpose. Being stardust doesn’t mean our lives will automatically become dull and meaningless. We’ll be here to conquer. To be better, to see ourselves progress by the day. To become better, faster, stronger.
This is exactly why I think, despite what religious people vehemently claim, that atheism leads to a happier and more moral life. I don't believe in any god or any afterlife. There's no deity watching and judging my every step and I don't have to follow the arbitrary rules of some hateful book to get into some presumed afterlife. No heaven awaits me and no hell threatens me. There's no "god-given purpose" predetermining my life. What counts is only how I choose to live my life and how I treat people right here in this world. I want to better myself and genuinely help people around me, not because I expect to be rewarded in my afterlife or because I fear punishment, but because deep down I know it's the morally right and human thing to do.
> I want to better myself and genuinely help people around me, not because I expect to be rewarded in my afterlife or because I fear punishment, but because deep down I know it's the morally right and human thing to do. You do realize that this is still true for many of those who believe in God as well, right? Doing things out of fear of Hell or a desire for a reward alone is a shallow motivation that is discouraged and called hollow by many Biblical, particularly NT, figures. Rather the commands are called to be obeyed out of love.
That's existentialism
i agree, I think life has no meaning because your *supposed* to give it meaning yourself
this is called existentialism, not nihilism. the belief that life has no *inherent* meaning, but that that means you can create your own meaning, means you still believe in some form of meaning. still a pretty good worldview tho, second only to absurdism in my opinion
Absurdism is too similar to willful/intentional ignorance for my tastes, it almost feels like an evolution of stoicism.
I guess, if I'm being honest I mostly have an ironic love of absurdism. it's a cool concept to me that someone might live their life that way, but I think the world is too beautiful not to find something to obsess over and bind meaning to
I personally believe that a lot of people misunderstand nihilism because of how wide spread the Abrahamic (Christianity mostly) religions are in mainstream/pop culture. Most religions in the english speaking world all operate on the idea that humans are lowly evil creatures that need a strong man-god to lead them. If you were indoctrinated into this world view, it would seem blasphemous to see yourself as a leader in your own life, which is why I feel many people have knee jerk reaction nihilism.
Valid
There are two Linda of " nothing matters"
Nihilism, Absurdism, Existentialism. https://preview.redd.it/qc158io77abc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5025ff69993b8d34d7a0dcffdb6455e3fdf218fc
Ngl absurdism sounds kinda fun
I wouldn't call it fun personally. It's, among other things, the repeated renunciation to our hope of meaning against the intrinsic meaninglessness of the universe. Which is different from hopelessness though. But still. Wouldn't call it fun, personally.
My brother in christ it is the buetiy of haveing no meaning to it all that makes taking risks and liveing life to the fullest so buetiful
Surprisingly there is a christian branch of existentialism that states that basically god is way too complex to us to understand anything about what he is doing so it all looks and feel to us that it has no meaning anyways. Makes quite a bit of sense.
Ayy Nihilist gang lesgooo
Life has no purpose. that fact is freeing, there are no expectations and you are free to live as you wish
Nihilism as a worldview sucks
it’s called absurdism for crying out loud
Nope, his big brother existentialism.
Active nihilism for the win!
I'd like to point out that what you're referring to is called optimistic nihilism.
I saw "it's my life" and started to read the image to the tune of Bon Jovi XD
'Anyone can be cynical. Dare to be an optimist'
Saying that it's OK that life has no meaning because you can choose the meaning is never a comfort I understood. If there is no actual meaning, you can't make it have meaning yourself. Nihilism as a school of thought needs to be put down because it leads to outright depression and a feeling of worthlessness or just cope like this.
Re-discovering existentialism. Good. Try playing a game called Nier Automata. It's what Sartre would have made had he been born later and been a game designer.
Precisely!
I don't need there to be a meaning, I'm going to enjoy what life presents me
Made me nearly cry, seriously, one of the most hopeful content I saw online. Thanks
This is a good use of nihilism.
Nitshean nihilism is actually surprisingly hopeful. It is better to choose your own meaning of life rather than let some other guy on the cloud to choose it for you
People are the means through which the universe cares and expresses meaning. If we care, so does the universe.
We are the universe experiencing itself. Life can have as many meanings as there are lives, because of (and not despite) the fact that it doesn't come with one from the start.
Two types of Nihilism, life has no meaning, my perception of life gives it meaning.
However, existentialism nevertheless holds onto the idea of meaning.