It’s a fun place to live and all, but if you see it for how it really it is, it’s fucking boring. Sure, there’s entertainment, “go snowboarding, try skydiving, drink this, smoke this, swallow this, see the Great Barrier Reef!”, but it all eventually returns to its equilibrium of nihilism and inevitable boredom (for one thing to exist, the opposite must also)

You outstrip the nihilism, and what are you left with? Hedonism. But that's exactly what our society's all about, isn't it? Lifestyles favouring over-consumption contributing to the benefit of those at the top so they can do much the same. Birth, consume, contribute to your GDP, pursue the million dollar happiness, consume, spawn a carbon-neutral family, consume, die is the aim of the game with the pretext of 'enjoyment' courtesy of a bullshit one-way mass media.

Now, getting back to me, as it wouldn't really be fair if I didn't assess my own life, would it? I am content with who I am and what I have in my possession (physical and mental level); but, I realise that my existence in logical terms is utterly pointless. Why don't I end it now you ask? Logically speaking I really should and consider doing so often enough - not out of depression but out of pure logistics of objective nihilism. But I consider myself relatively young and there are several things I wish to experience and achieve before I go.

Everything is relative to something else. Earth’s people are mediocre at best (blatant generalisations are fun) and most of the time they are the only real source of entertainment, purely because of their relative randomness to one another (props to DNA to stop me from going insane and killing myself)

There's always the satisfaction of meeting challenges and developing new insights. Sure it boils down to hedonism, but it's mentally engaging enough that it's impossible to emotionally perceive the pointlessness of it. Experiences are one thing, being a real part of your experiences is another.

Nihilism is non-sequitlicious. You can start from it and end up at any conclusion you want. If youre bored, its your own goddamned fault.

Nihilism is a phase in a greater cycle. It comes in two varieties, much like religion. There is the exoteric, which is just the generally value-less existence epitomized in modern western civilization; the short-sighted, self-centerd, reality-denying, overconsumptive, commercialized, baseless existence. Then there is the esoteric end of nihilism. This comes when individuals realize the immanent nihilism around them, and instead of treating their existential angst with mind-numbing substances, material wealth, and reckless promiscuity.. they begin to truly examine the concepts of value, existence, reality, und so weiter. The method used here is that of subration, and can be found in many traditional doctrines such as Advaita Vedanta. In that particular case: things, concepts, and ideas are granted less "realness" if they can be contradicted. The only true reality being Brahman (the formless, unconditioned, infinite, absolute which includes everything).

To put this in a clearer context, nihilism becomes a tool in that it enables one to think beyond what they take for granted. To really examine everything from the ground up. Any beliefs previously held that, under the microscope of nihilism, don't pass the test are dismissed. Their void is filled with things that do have meaning, reality, and affirm life as well as existence as a whole. This is where a creative principle enters, but often one finds that the same conclusions they draw from honest, patient, and humble study of universe were already made and documented in the cultures of antiquity. This provides humans with the roots of their existence and thought. Roots, which as if in a tree, are needed for growth (in a figurative sense).

The ideas I've expressed here have been called at times, Active Nihilism. If you want to read more about it, I'd recommend checking out the American Nihilist Underground Society (http://www.anus.com). Or reading some Nietzsche, Evola, Schopenhauer, etc.

Similar ideas are also elaborated in the great primordial traditions of ancient cultures, particularly those of Indo-European cultures. Hinduism, and its offshoot Buddhism, is the best example of an extant and preserved tradition of this character.

The importance of turning to this ancient knowledge, is that it guides one to the transcendant and the mystical. This is where one should venture after a nihilistic phase. One needs to reconnect and be centered within the transcendant dimension to bring meaning to their existence. I'm not sugesting that these ideas have a monopoly on truth. I would never advocate blind following of tradition. Rather, ancestral culture provides a basis to aid in exploring the world. Much like a scientific experiment is meant to be repeated in order to determine if its results are valid.

Just a tip, try to stop thinking about things you've done or want to do (which boils down to desires, destined to leave a void within you), and focus on being itself. Then once you have begun to master your inner dimension, you can begin to focus on your action within the external world.

Getting lost is half the fun

Does life really have to make sense to be worth living?

To the world you may just be another person, but to another person you may be the world.

Learn to enjoy the malleable reality.

1. It doesn't matter that nothing matters.

At the very least, nihilism is the denial of the reality of value. In other words, it is the claim that nothing matters. If we grant that nothing matters, it follows that nihilism, too, doesn't matter.

That is, there is nothing special about the fact that nothing matters. This fact is neither ugly nor beautiful, good nor bad, happy or sad.

2. Truth doesn't matter either, but it's sexy all the same.

Values—especially those related to birth, sex and death—are so deeply entrenched in our mental equipment and supported by such severe social pressure that most people cannot even conceive of doubting their reality. In fact, such doubt is explicitly prohibited in many societies and the penalties backing these prohibitions can be severe.

This makes nihilism rather unique among philosophies. Granted, it challenges the most fundamental assumptions governing society and culture, but in reality it is nothing more than a simple philosophical claim that has no practical implications and no ethical imperatives (it rejects both). Nevertheless, nihilism can expose its outspoken adherents to many risks, from depression and suicide to social persecution and alienation. In addition, consider how life would change if, in America, religion died off and nihilism became the dominant philosophy. I cannot imagine a more horrifying vision.

This furnishes an important lesson about intellectual honesty. If you consider yourself a “truth seeker,” you will concur when I say that the sole target of honest inquiry should always be truth (i.e., the facts, reality, what is really the case or what have you). If an unbiased investigation uncovers a fact about the world, we are bound as truth-seekers to at least admit that the truth of this fact. Regardless of how ugly or unpopular or nauseating the facts may be, the target must not be moved: Truth and truth alone is the goal of honest inquiry. So if—like most—your ultimate concern in philosophy is to pick out the best candidates for truth when approaching life’s most compelling questions, you cannot allow the social implications or emotional difficulties of nihilism to have any bearing on your analysis of it. In other words, if what you really want is the truth, you have no choice but to accept or reject the nihilist position on its own rational merits and without any consideration of its potential consequences for your life or for society. Only in myths and storybooks does truth exist to make us happy. In the real world, it doesn’t give a damn how we feel about it.

Pardon me while I brandish some (unreal) values of my own for the sake of persuasion. In my view, it is naïve and intellectually dishonest to judge the truthfulness any idea with recourse to whether or not it promotes peace, happiness, self-esteem or any other emotionally amenable results. Indeed, it just might turn out that, in reality, the world is a dark, depressing and terrifying place, and if you eliminate this possibility in advance, you will never be certain whether you’ve got things right and you will lose access to the least trod paths of thought. Of course, you could always be upfront about your intentions and admit that, if the world turns out to be a dark and hopeless place, you would rather remain ignorant of that truth in the interests of your own happiness. If that’s your approach, more power to you. But if you want to claim that you are a philosopher or that truth is your sole concern, be prepared to enter the dark forests as well as the sunny meadows.

I have been speaking of truth as a valuable commodity that is worthy of pursuit. Obviously, this conflicts with my claim that nothing matters since, if nothing matters, truth doesn’t matter either. I’ll grant this point. However, in my own defense, I’ll freely admit that my obsession with truth is entirely without foundations and forces me to adopt false motives to keep it moving. There is nothing worthwhile about truth. But there is nothing worthwhile about anything and no purpose in life, so I don’t need a good reason to seek truth. Frankly, philosophical inquiry is so deeply rooted that I can’t keep away from it.

-Vern the Nihilist
http://rantingnihilist.blogspot.com/2008/10/in-popular-culture-term-nihilism-is.html

Nihilism is for the clinically depressed and Christians. Hipsters should leave it alone, they corrupt it by using it for a purpose: to be what they value most.

but, I realise that my existence in logical terms is utterly pointless. Why don't I end it now you ask? Logically speaking I really should and consider doing so often enough - not out of depression but out of pure logistics of objective nihilism.

If it's so pointless, what would be the point in killing yourself???

..Yea....

I'm becoming nihilistic these days as well. I think it's the correct philosophy. Except instead of suicidal thoughts, I think, "Wow, it's totally and utterly pointless...so what could I achieve today to trick myself into purpose and place?" The more I think about how pointless life is, the more I'm mesmerized by it and yearn to experience even more. I love it! You just need to find yourself - to find that essence that IS your existence. It's hard to explain beyond that.

Nihilism is for the clinically depressed and Christians. Hipsters should leave it alone, they corrupt it by using it for a purpose: to be what they value most.

That was somewhat poetic, did you steal that from the works of someone else? There's no way a retard like Hair_Guts could ever think it up.

That was somewhat poetic, did you steal that from the works of someone else? There's no way a retard like Hair_Guts could ever think it up.

pshhhh, only losers put value and meaning in creativity nothing is original man life is pointless

Of course it's going to get boring if you think about things too much in this way. What i suggest is grab a drink or a smoke or whatever, Get out, and enjoy life.

Of course it's going to get boring if you think about things too much in this way. What i suggest is grab a drink or a smoke or whatever, Get out, and enjoy life.

...great advice... :rolleyes: then again nihilists tend to lead a path of self-destruction.

if that's what you think is required to enjoy yourself, i feel sorry for you.

great advice... then again nihilists tend to lead a path of self-destruction.

if that's what you think is required to enjoy yourself, i feel sorry for you.


I never said he had to and besides whats so wrong with a little of the stuff? every now and then. :D

People choose religions/ideologies/whatever not because of rationalization but because of emotion or lack thereof.

Happy people see the world as awesome and fluffy.
Depressed people see the world as horrible and boring.

I never said he had to and besides whats so wrong with a little of the stuff? every now and then. :D

You know what? It's not. Sorry for potentially coming across as a douche.

You know what? It's not. Sorry for potentially coming across as a douche.

Well at least you understood what i said now.

nihilism is the product of the mind not being able to cope with the void

Happy people see the world as awesome and fluffy.
Depressed people see the world as horrible and boring.

I think nihilism is bigger than the world being awesome or horrible. Its about whether or not you are happy or sad on earth, in the end it never mattered. I am a fairly happy person most of the time because earth is an interesting place full of interesting things. But that doesn't mean I think it matters in the end, when I'm no more than a memory inevitably growing more dim in people's minds as every day passes.

I think nihilism is bigger than the world being awesome or horrible. Its about whether or not you are happy or sad on earth, in the end it never mattered. I am a fairly happy person most of the time because earth is an interesting place full of interesting things. But that doesn't mean I think it matters in the end, when I'm no more than a memory inevitably growing more dim in people's minds as every day passes.

there is no end and there is no beginning

nihilism is a playground theory for those who have seen the nonsense in the rest of philosophy but haven't yet discovered meditation or psychedelia

or for those who woefully misinterpret Nietszche

there is no end and there is no beginning

nihilism is a playground theory for those who have seen the nonsense in the rest of philosophy but haven't yet discovered meditation or psychedelia

or for those who woefully misinterpret Nietszche

It's a necessary stage before one can realize Brahman. Or whatever you wish to call the ineffable.

It's a necessary stage before one can realize Brahman. Or whatever you wish to call the ineffable.

trying to call it anything takes too much energy, whatever it is it can't be anything separate from anything from else, hence Brahman = Atman

Nihilism allows values to actually be worth something. Instead of having <objective> values that are forced on people as being the 'great truthful values of life', a nihilist knows that values are subjective experiences and can therefore choose them conciously.
There is nothing in nihilism that contradicts having values, it's just about knowing about the void and then defining our own.
There would be 6.5 billion + definitions of every single value : Family, Truth, Trust, Faith, etc. We would say "this is my truth" instead of "this is The Truth", like people have been doing since BC.
Basically, because it forces us to remove our values, we can have one of two attitudes towards it : active or passive.
Active nihilism is when we decide to 'do something about it instead of being a coward'. It's about constant creation and constant reevaluation of the values, and thus of action and a form of lucid happiness. It tells us "nature is hard, be harder to survive and live. Your Humanity means nothing, it is a delusion to hide you from the void. live close to your desires, and may your desires be a glorious happiness brought by a constant improvement of yourself."
Passive nihilism the attitude taken by depressed people who want to sound cool by calling their depression and lack of love for life "nihilism" (quote : "oo look at me, im so depressed, i'm a nihilist, you're a conformist, fuck you, I'm cool, read Nietzsche's Antichrist and some Dotoeivski and then you'll be as cool as me", a.k.a. pseudointellectuals)
haha philosopher's joke.
Long story short, passive nihilism sucks.

Readings : Nietzsche's Zarathustra (if you're still sane after), and Twilight of the Idols. I just tried to explain what I think I understood and what I found interesting.

Here's an extra for depressed philosophers:
Philosophy is about 'liking wisdom', right? (check out the greek roots.) and wisdom can be defined as the kind of knowledge which allows us to make proper lucid and reasoned decisions in life to be happier, smarter, etc...
Thus, the goal of philosophy is learning to be happy in the smartest and fullest way possible. Learning how to perceive the world as to not be fooled or bullshitted, learning how to think so we won't do anything we'll regret and being happy from the intellectual pleasure it provides.
Fitting message, as it's in a thread about nihilism!

Nihilism is often confused with passivism; in reality, it's nothing more than active negativism.

If nothing matters, why care about nothing mattering?

Reminds me of a Zen proverb:

Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.
Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received."
Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry.
"If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?"