Nihlism

Nihilism, a philosophy about the meaning of life, it states that nothing has meaning because there is no afterlife, that we are just here and then we die, that nothing is important. Do you agree that life is meaningless or do you disagree?

Honestly? I find nihilistic attitudes incredibly depressing. I believe that everything and everyone has a purpose. How would you like to be told that no matter what you do, it will never mean anything? It's a downer. I'm not trying to be rude, but it sounds like something a whiny teenager would say.

I just completely hate that attitude and utterly disagree with it.

Fun fact: nihil means nothing in Latin.

I also find it depressing. Even if it is true I don't want to wallow in it my whole life. I'd rather believe something that isn't there...

I think it's rather morbid. I don't think I could even try thinking with a nihilist mindset. Everyone needs to feel like they have a purpose, not just to be on earth and then die.

I think it's very depressing, although I do find myself edging toward nihilist beliefs since Christianity just doesn't convince me. Nor does any other religion, for that matter

I find it depressing...people who believe that there is nothing after this life often have nothing to hang onto and no incentive or purpose...I disagree with the belief, but I don't have any issues with someone who is agnostic.

I used to believe this, about... a little over a year ago. But it makes sense, because that was one of the most depressing periods of my life, yet. I still have nihilistic thoughts every now and then, but it all comes back to me thinking it just doesn't add up, really.

Just having the thoughts can bring you down, pretty badly.

Nihilism isn't necessarily associated with religion all the time. It's not really a type of religious attitude. Nihilists also tend to think that anything you do has no meaning, and tend to be anarchistic.

It's a philosophy based on hardcore realism, so it being depressive isn't really a review of any kind. It's nicer to think that they're wrong just because it's depressing to think they're right. But if you do so, then you're not doing too much thinking, are you?

Xsoteria:

Nihilism isn't necessarily associated with religion all the time. It's not really a type of religious attitude. Nihilists also tend to think that anything you do has no meaning, and tend to be anarchistic.

It's a philosophy based on hardcore realism, so it being depressive isn't really a review of any kind. It's nicer to think that they're wrong just because it's depressing to think they're right. But if you do so, then you're not doing too much thinking, are you?

I've read a lovely book a few weeks ago called La plus belle historie du bonheure (in translation - the most beautiful history of happiness) about how different philosophical schools and groups approached the question of attaining happiness. It was really interesting to see how different people from different eras pondered upon happiness. How to live our life in the right way is a key question that philosophy both asks and tries to answer so, yes, the point of philosophy is partially to help us be happy and to some a philosophical group that proclaims that happiness (and everything else) is meaningless defies the very nature of philosophy.

I think people think nihilism is cool too much. It's not the first group to deny the existence of an afterlife of any sort (Epicurus) or the first "depressing" one either (see Schopenhauer), in general I think postmodernism as a whole is just a bad sad joke.

Does anyone actually know a real life Nihilist? :shifty
Because, honestly, I can't see someone living in that whole mindset for the remainder of their life.

^ I don't think I've ever met one, but I don't often go around asking people what philosophies they follow.

I doubt a hardcore follower of nihilism would really have the desire to live very long. If life is pointless, then what's the point of living? Not to sound rude, but that's just how it seems to me,

I know one today, and I may know more but as ^ said, I don't go around asking people about their philosophies.

As for the one I know, well there isn't exactly anything particulary wrong with him. I mean he has as unique of a personality as any other friend of mine, but I don't see it controlling his life. He's here to have fun even though he thinks it's all ultimately rather pointless. He is quite capable of enjoying life, in my opinion.

Alyxxthefall.:

Does anyone actually know a real life Nihilist? :shifty
Because, honestly, I can't see someone living in that whole mindset for the remainder of their life.

Hmm, philosophy is by definition something you know, not something in which you believe. Although not a nihilist in the modern sense of the word, Nietzsche was a real person and he acknowledged the fact that nihilists exist in the modern world and that nihilism is a veritable crisis of the (Western?) modern spirit.
I think. In any case, nihilism does exist and we see it everywhere around us in art.

proust.:

Alyxxthefall.:

Does anyone actually know a real life Nihilist? :shifty
Because, honestly, I can't see someone living in that whole mindset for the remainder of their life.

Hmm, philosophy is by definition something you know, not something in which you believe. Although not a nihilist in the modern sense of the word, Nietzsche was a real person and he acknowledged the fact that nihilists exist in the modern world and that nihilism is a veritable crisis of the (Western?) modern spirit.
I think. In any case, nihilism does exist and we see it everywhere around us in art.

Sure. I know a nihilist. My friend Suze. Oh, and Jaymie's pretty disappointed with life, too.
A few of my friends (who live all over the world) are nihilists. What they say is 'Why act like there's gonna be a happy ending when the whole universe's going to end someday? Why try to be happy until then? You'll only disappoint yourself and hurt more when it's all taken away from you in one second.'
Because I feel like as long as there's something good, then you should celebrate it. That doesn't mean I don't necessarily not ever get especially sad. That happens, quite often too. But nihilism is perfectly possible and existent. I feel like denying the existence of something that you know exists isn't right.

I'm a bit of a Nihilist.
As far as I'm concerned, at the end of my days I'm going in a box 6 feet under and there you have it, I'll become a part of the earth.
To me, I just do what's required in life to get by without having to be bothered with other people.
I suppose you could call me a misanthropist too.

^ So you're a misanthropist, and yet you're posting on a community forum? I find that a little strange.

I tend to strongly dislike people as a majority, but I do realize there are lots of wonderful individuals around.

I've already made my opinion on the subject clear. To me, it honestly seems like the creation of a troubled and pessimistic mind. There are certainly things about this world that I find upsetting, but I could never sink low enough to lose complete faith in the world and consider all of our exploits, efforts, and emotions utterly meaningless.

I'd never heard of nihlism before I came into this thread, but I'd say I am a Nihlist.

I think things like ghosts and reincarnation and things would be brilliant if they were real, but in the same kind of way I think Hogwarts would be fantastic if it was real.

I just don't see how there can be a point to life when life, the planet, and the universe will eventually come to an end.

I don't think believing there's no point to life particularly depressing, though I can see how it would be to someone with a negative mindset, but to me it just means I'd might as well enjoy life, since it's the only thing I've got.

I hold a nihlistic view point but I use it for pedantic purposes.

I don't think I'm depressing...

I just think that all human endevour is ultimately pointless since we'll all be dead in a few cosmological decades.

I just think you shouldn't get too hung up on all the tiny, crappy nuggets of fatuotousity that we do get so hung up on.

Am I the only one who doesn't really mind if existance itself is pointless?

:shifty

I quite like having a nihlist mindset.

^ I think that all achievements are perishables too, but I don't think that makes them meaningless. Look at Nietzsche, he lived, wrote books, then died, part of his work has been preserved and it affects the life of its readers, in a few thousand years, maybe Nietzsche and Nihilism will have been completely forgotten, but our (we who read/discuss Nietzsche) views and ideas about him and it have/will affect the lives of others, and they'll affect others, and so on, the effect of Nietzsche's philosophy will be felt even in 20,009 (granted humanity will not have perished by then). But that's just one aspect of it, I think your actions are meaningful in themselves, for you, not for others and you shouldn't try to only see your life through the eyes of others- contemporaries or future generations.

^ I'm talking in the end of everything - a topic dear to my heart.

In the end, even if it survives, the idea I mean, there will be no one to read it. It will be a book on a dead planet, orbiting a dead star in a dead, cold universe.