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> The core of nihilism is that since the indifferent universe is without meaning humans have to give it meaning. I'm not that familiar with nihilism, but I'm r

> The core of nihilism is that since the indifferent universe is without meaning humans have to give it meaning. I'm not that familiar with nihilism, but I'm rather surprised that "humans have to give it meaning" is part of the core. That's somewhat non-obvious to me; intuitively I would have expected nihilists to believe that meaning cannot exist. Can you point me toward some sources that say nihilists actually believe that humans are capable of creating meaning?

yters 6y ago
i question that too what marks humans out from the rest of the meaningless universe that suddenly blesses them as meaning bearers? almost seems to imply some sort of religious idea that humans are not a part of the ubiverse
- andreilys 6y ago
  We've been seeking answers to big questions like where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going, for a very long time. Now whether that those answers are accurate is a different question. But I think it's clear that humans crave meaning, and are happy to relegate meaning-making to third party institutions such as organized religion or the media.
- coldtea 6y ago
  You don't need to create a concrete meaning, something that is "objectively" meaning, etc. Just a good-enough-for-you meaning. >almost seems to imply some sort of religious idea that humans are not a part of the ubiverse Well, they're not like other parts, in that they have meta-cognition, and a lot of it. Planets and black holes and ants don't wonder about meaning.
- MacsHeadroom 6y ago
  Another way to understand it is that the universe is truly "objectless" because "objects" are merely concepts in the mind of the "subject." Non-human subjective experiencers also imagine meaningful objects in their own minds. There's nothing special about humans other than their ability to communicate with other humans.
andreilys 6y ago
"This - is now my way: where is yours?' Thus I answered those who asked me 'the way'. For the way - does not exist!" - Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra
coldtea 6y ago
>Can you point me toward some sources that say nihilists actually believe that humans are capable of creating meaning? That's a big part of existentialism (Sartre, Camus, etc), in which life has no inherent meaning, and it's rather empty existence, and it's up to the person to make any meaning for themselves.
- ajslater 6y ago
  Existentialism's conclusion is often nihilism: Life has no meaning. Absurdism is an extension to that: Yes, but you may create your own.

yters 6y ago

i question that too what marks humans out from the rest of the meaningless universe that suddenly blesses them as meaning bearers? almost seems to imply some sort of religious idea that humans are not a part of the ubiverse

andreilys 6y ago
We've been seeking answers to big questions like where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going, for a very long time. Now whether that those answers are accurate is a different question. But I think it's clear that humans crave meaning, and are happy to relegate meaning-making to third party institutions such as organized religion or the media.
coldtea 6y ago
You don't need to create a concrete meaning, something that is "objectively" meaning, etc. Just a good-enough-for-you meaning. >almost seems to imply some sort of religious idea that humans are not a part of the ubiverse Well, they're not like other parts, in that they have meta-cognition, and a lot of it. Planets and black holes and ants don't wonder about meaning.
MacsHeadroom 6y ago
Another way to understand it is that the universe is truly "objectless" because "objects" are merely concepts in the mind of the "subject." Non-human subjective experiencers also imagine meaningful objects in their own minds. There's nothing special about humans other than their ability to communicate with other humans.

andreilys 6y ago

"This - is now my way: where is yours?' Thus I answered those who asked me 'the way'. For the way - does not exist!" - Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra

coldtea 6y ago

>Can you point me toward some sources that say nihilists actually believe that humans are capable of creating meaning? That's a big part of existentialism (Sartre, Camus, etc), in which life has no inherent meaning, and it's rather empty existence, and it's up to the person to make any meaning for themselves.

ajslater 6y ago
Existentialism's conclusion is often nihilism: Life has no meaning. Absurdism is an extension to that: Yes, but you may create your own.