How many atheists here are also nihilists?
Posted Aug 13, 2009, 7:23 PM UTC
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we believe in nossing lebowski
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Nice Marmot...
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[deleted]
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Command F leb...
Aah, there we go. My work here is done.
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It's said that the logical conclusion of rationalism is nihilism. Just wondering how many people take rationalism to that conclusion?
Edit: I just want to say that there is nothing wrong with being a nihilist. Nihilists live happy productive lives. It just seems the definition is more taboo to the general public than atheism, even among atheists.
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Very few of us, because it's not.
EDIT: I suppose moral nihilism follows from rationalism, but that doesn't mean we should discard morality. Human interactions are not the same as particle interactions; you can't draw moral conclusions by observing the physical universe.
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So does Existential nihilism: That life has no intrinsic purpose or meaning.
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Alright, then, I'm a nihilist. But I wouldn't use that term, because people tend to assume that you think that there is no purpose or meaning to anything rather than that you think there is no intrinsic purpose or meaning to anything. Most people I'd talk to don't understand the difference unless it's explained.
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From as early as I can remember, I've identified as being a nihilist. I didn't know until age 15 the exact term for it though.
Strictly speaking, there is no purpose to my existence, but that doesn't stop me from trying to live my life. I'm genetically predisposed to trying to live life, despite any purely rational conclusions I might have. A friend of mine and I had a very interesting discussion about this, and I basically summed my beliefs up as an existential nihilist that often ignores that belief.
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I have some doubts that free will exists as well. Not strong doubts because I simply do not have enough information to be convinced. However, without free will, any self purpose, meaning, or even morality become illusionary.
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Has no one here heard of Kantian ethics? Even if you don't like it, it's fully compatible with rationalism, thus making at least two options to chose from. There's probably more.
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Of course we have, and we're not discussing them.
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[deleted]
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Well... whoever says that is wrong.
Although, I guess this version of nihilism has something to be said for it. :)
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quickly skimming the Wikipedia article on nihilism, I can't say I agree with existential nihilism at all. In absolute terms, maybe, but humans themselves aren't absolute, and life isn't absolute. Life is too quick and temporary to get bogged down in whether there's a point to it at all. When you've finally figured out the answer, your dead of old age anyway.
I guess I concur with the specific definitions of nihilism according to textbooks, but not in practical life. I'm not living my life as a nihilist, even if I agree to some of the points.
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that must be exhausting.
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Life IS it's own purpose.
BTW, did you see this?
If this is true, then it would imply that without life, there is nothing.
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Ever hear the idea from a French Philosopher(don't know the name) that we are all potentially insane people meeting on a parallel plane of existence but completely fucked in the other one?
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Remember that part in The Matrix where Agent Smith explains to Morpheus how humans aren't mammals but really viruses, destroying the earth (& each other!)? Yeah, that.
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Not at all. Humanism is the way to go, in my opinion. Nihilism always gets me so upset and hopeless. Humanism gives me purpose.
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I'm a positive nihlist. I don't believe that anything matters, and i'm ecstatic and happy about it, I'm not sure why though. Somehow that idea makes me warm and snuggly inside.
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The way you framed that response just made me discover I may be a positive nihilist as well. Thanks!
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neat, I was hanging out with a theology scholar friend of mine, and he told me that that's what i am. i liked it, but i don't believe its an actual term. when did you discover/become an atheist/nihlist?
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I was an atheist before I knew I was an atheist; I didn't really believe in God but I wasn't willing to be direct an admit it. After I started looking into morality outside of religion, I came to the opinion of existential nihilism without knowing it - that things have no inherent value, and we only add value to things later. I like that perspective, because you get to determine for yourself what matters and what doesn't. It's really freedom to choose your life and your values.
Strictly speaking, secular humanism is a nifty system, and I pretty much hold to that. However, at this point I realize that I only choose to consider it a valid system, and realize that valuing it is completely arbitrary and based on my perspective. It's a bit of a grey area though, and I'm still working out all the ethical implications.
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Humanist consider their morals absolute and that word is something I can't except.
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I'm a Moral-Nihilist but that simply follows from being Determinist. I haven't seen any evidence on Determinism one way or the other so I choose it because it seems like the simpler explanation. This included the small understanding I have of quantum mechanics. It also feels more romantic than randomness. It makes this Atheist warm and fuzzy.
Edit: English is hard.
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I guess I'd call myself a nihilist.
I find it interesting how everyone is so afraid of that term. Like if you ask your average atheist if they are a nihilist they will sort of quickly shake their heads and say "No no, I love people --- I'm a humanist" (or something to that effect).
I think people are just largely ignorant of nihilism and what it entails, to the same degree that religions people are often ignorant of what atheism is and what it entails.
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Nihilism is a non-realistic philosophy of life. No one can apply its true tenets to everyday life. The logical conclusion to nihilism is suicide.
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Does anyone know of a good online quiz that helps you figure out which philosophy you agree with the most?
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You're kidding right?
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No. Why would I be? I know about politicalcompass.org for politics, and I know about beliefnet.com for religion, but I really haven't found a comparable one for philosophy.
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Give you a hint. Don't. One of the worst things in this world is how we like to box shit up like we were working at UPS. For fucks sake, think outside the box. Too many people (I do think you have escaped though) identify as republican or democrat and that is it, whatever the party says they think. It is a cop out and lessons the burden on being insightful, original and just plain unique. Don't cave in, keep thinking for yourself.
The only box we should put ourselves in is the free thinking box, because no one has yet to find the walls.
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If you have to consult the internet so you can pigeon hole yourself into a category that is supposed to encompass your views, opinions and philosophy, then you're a douche. Think what you want to think! Following the thought processes of another to the letter is a dumb thing to do really, whether it be the word of god, jesus, allah, jehovah or whoever. You don't need a website, a book, or some dick with a white collar to tell you what to believe. Open your mind, think for yourself, and approach everything with caution.
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Well thanks for dismissing my request. I never would have found out that I fit what is called secular humanism without one of the quizzes you dismiss so quickly. Now I can explore this aspect of my life more efficiently.
Just as atheism isn't a positive descriptor, I'm looking for a positive descriptor that fits my disdain for moral absolutes. It's rather difficult to explain to people what it means to be amoral.
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Skwisgaar: Pffft, this is dildos. Doesn't he knows there's no such things as religion?
Nathan: You mean you don't believe in God. There is such a thing as religion.
Skwisgaar: Well prove it! Show me a miracle that religion exists!
Nathan: What kind of church is this?
Pickles: This is the, uhh, Church of the Atheists.
Nathan: Oh, uhh, what does that mean?
Pickles: Oh, uhh, it means that they don't believe in, uhh, God.
Nathan: Oh, like Skwisgaar or Toki?
Skwisgaar: No we are Nihilists, we don't believe in anything.
Nathan: Can't a Nihilist also not believe in god, too?
Skwisgaar: Uhhh, I don't know.
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[deleted]
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As in 'life is a meaningless pattern of interaction of atoms' or as in 'there is no objective basis for truth'? Raises hand either way.
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[deleted]
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Yes, I'm a nihilist, but I also feel that knowing that morality/values are subjective we have the opportunity to and should work to make that subjective morality as equatable as possible (No I am not talking about communism).
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Nihilism to me makes the most sense because many of the other purposed ideas have problems such as hedonism.
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I'm an existential nihilist. I think life and existence have no inherit meaning, they just are. It would not matter at all if they were not, so why would it matter if they are?
That being said, I'm what I have seen labeled (through the famous xkcd strip http://xkcd.com/167/ ) as a squirrel nihilist, one who finds his own meaning and reason.
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I am a nihilist. That doesn't mean I don't find there to be a reason to have morals and such, even if they are something made up. There are basic rules people should follow in any society to avoid it's collapse. I have a very misanthropic view of people but I seek to make my life good and help the environment.
It seems to be a law that one can not have both a deep regard for man and nature.
I forgot the author, maybe Thoreau.
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I don't believe in nihilism.
brilliant.
Well played.