3 ms·

Nihilism is a complicated subject. Like feminism, it's a word that means a wide range of things to different people. One person's take on nihilism obviously is

by pc2g4d 7y ago

Nihilism is a complicated subject. Like feminism, it's a word that means a wide range of things to different people. One person's take on nihilism obviously is their operating definition more than a single decisive statement on the subject.

ravenstine 7y ago
Nihilism has been a fad in the last 5 years. (I blame Rick and Morty) A lot of these "nihilists" that I've met use it as an excuse to be apathetic or even low-level belligerent, or to not put a mental filter on their disjointed thoughts. But it's not that they never gave a damn about anything; it's that they're either bored or were let down in some way by the establishment. I discovered nihilism before I even understood that it was a thing. I came to a realization that, until I had some clear evidence to the contrary(even then I'm not sure I could let go of my skepticism), there is effectively an exception to every rule that we conceive of and that our view of existence is almost completely tainted by the way in which we perceive it. Thus, I have to accept that people in my reality are also perceiving reality in an entirely unique way, in which case I can't truly begrudge them when they act out. Essentially, I became a moral nihilist because there's no way I can reconcile my view of the world with idea that morals are objective and not contingent on circumstance. (which isn't to say that I'm a moral relativist) I doubt that most people who call themselves nihilists are truly nihilists or even have the kinds of views on nihilism that I do. It's an identity that most people arrive at not through their own inward exploration but as a response to the world acting upon them. I would argue that's true of most belief systems, though it's probably more transparent with nihilism since it's the rejection of something, so it's not as if there's a coherent doctrine that so-called nihilists can use to bullshit others.
- jariel 7y ago
  Morals don't need to be objective to be valid.
  - ravenstine 7y ago
    I don't disagree with that.
    - jariel 7y ago
      What are the 'morals' of some entirely different alien race? Are they going to be the same as ours? Probably not. Maybe there are some very 'core' morals that might be consistent, but pragmatically, they won't resemble at all. The 'morals' of Athenian life in antiquity were such that every able-bodied male had to have his own war fighting gear, and be called to fight in the defence of the city if need be. This would be an existential duty towards the community, without which, they could not exist. But Athens today? Not necessary.

by pc2g4d 7y ago

ravenstine 7y ago

Nihilism has been a fad in the last 5 years. (I blame Rick and Morty) A lot of these "nihilists" that I've met use it as an excuse to be apathetic or even low-level belligerent, or to not put a mental filter on their disjointed thoughts. But it's not that they never gave a damn about anything; it's that they're either bored or were let down in some way by the establishment. I discovered nihilism before I even understood that it was a thing. I came to a realization that, until I had some clear evidence to the contrary(even then I'm not sure I could let go of my skepticism), there is effectively an exception to every rule that we conceive of and that our view of existence is almost completely tainted by the way in which we perceive it. Thus, I have to accept that people in my reality are also perceiving reality in an entirely unique way, in which case I can't truly begrudge them when they act out. Essentially, I became a moral nihilist because there's no way I can reconcile my view of the world with idea that morals are objective and not contingent on circumstance. (which isn't to say that I'm a moral relativist) I doubt that most people who call themselves nihilists are truly nihilists or even have the kinds of views on nihilism that I do. It's an identity that most people arrive at not through their own inward exploration but as a response to the world acting upon them. I would argue that's true of most belief systems, though it's probably more transparent with nihilism since it's the rejection of something, so it's not as if there's a coherent doctrine that so-called nihilists can use to bullshit others.

jariel 7y ago
Morals don't need to be objective to be valid.
- ravenstine 7y ago
  I don't disagree with that.
  - jariel 7y ago
    What are the 'morals' of some entirely different alien race? Are they going to be the same as ours? Probably not. Maybe there are some very 'core' morals that might be consistent, but pragmatically, they won't resemble at all. The 'morals' of Athenian life in antiquity were such that every able-bodied male had to have his own war fighting gear, and be called to fight in the defence of the city if need be. This would be an existential duty towards the community, without which, they could not exist. But Athens today? Not necessary.