NationStates Jolt Archive

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?
Well, I've always claimed that the only thing that matters is your own individual happiness, so if nihlism is what brings you happiness, stick to it. You're not crazy.

I have to admit, since I became an Athiest I've been better adjusted, less judgemental and more forgiving. I don't call this Nihilism, because I believe in the upward striving of Man; but I'm definitely a happier man for it.

I only find nihilism depressing because of the whole "end of conciousness" thingy. I mean, c'mon, I went through all this bullshit for nothing?

Just out of curiosity, to anyone who wants to answer, is atheism essentially nihilism, or are the somehow different?

I only find nihilism depressing because of the whole "end of conciousness" thingy. I mean, c'mon, I went through all this bullshit for nothing?
Yes.
Just out of curiosity, to anyone who wants to answer, is atheism essentially nihilism, or are the somehow different?
No. Many atheists are idealists in non-spiritual ways. For instance, I don't think anyone is going to call a communist nihilistic, no properly educated person anyway.

I only find nihilism depressing because of the whole "end of conciousness" thingy. I mean, c'mon, I went through all this bullshit for nothing?

Just out of curiosity, to anyone who wants to answer, is atheism essentially nihilism, or are the somehow different?

Yes, there is a difference. Nihilism ("belief in nothing") postulates that fundamentally, nothing matters or ever will. Atheism ("Disbelief in god(s)") denies the existence of deities, and in most cases any kind of supernatural existence, but has nothing to say on the value of human striving and achievement. I am a Humanist Athiest, which is to say that I believe in Man, not God (/oversimplification, but I think that covers it).

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Why does happiness matter?

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?

I suppose it is possible to be a jolly rollicking nihilist. Ive never seen one but anything is possible.

The likeliest reason people associate nihilism with unhappiness however has less to do with how happy the nihilists themselves are and more to do with the mood nihilists seem able to impart onto most others.

Why does happiness matter?
Because it makes you feel good.
The likeliest reason people associate nihilism with unhappiness however has less to do with how happy the nihilists themselves are and more to do with the mood nihilists seem able to import into others.I guess most people just can't deal with not mattering.

Because it makes you feel good.

Why does making you feel good matter? If you don't value anything but pleasure, you're not a nihilist, you're a hedonist.

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?
Maybe it makes me happy. The idea of ceasing to exist gives me the creeps too much. I could never be a nihilist.

Why does making you feel good matter? If you don't value anything but pleasure, you're not a nihilist, you're a hedonist.
Why doesn't it matter?
Pleasure is not the same thing as happiness. Not the kind I'm thinking of. The kind I'm thinking of is just a general contentedness with life. If somebody feels they can't have that, I'm perfectly fine with them killing themselves, and I'm perfectly fine with killing myself, if someday events occur that make it impossible for me to acheive it.

Why would any nihilist reply to this thread? Who cares about this thread? This thread is unimportant. This board shouldn't exist!

Why would any nihilist reply to this thread? Who cares about this thread? This thread is unimportant.
Why not reply to this thread?

Why would any nihilist reply to this thread? Who cares about this thread? This thread is unimportant. This board shouldn't exist!
Yeah, but NOTHING is important, so why not?
This whole forum is unimportant (sorry to break it to you), so why are you on it in the first place?

Pleasure is not the same thing as happiness. Not the kind I'm thinking of. The kind I'm thinking of is just a general contentedness with life.

It's still hedonism. Just more sophisticated.

Why not reply to this thread?
I will reply in another board of my own choosing. Later. Maybe.

I guess most people just can't deal with not mattering.

That is an odd sideways leap of faith to make for a guy who foreswears faith as unfounded . At least it seemed so. Can you flesh out the part between where I explained that nihilists are buzz killing wet blankets and are therefore associated with unhappiness and your conclusion regarding the majority of people not coping with status issues?

It's still hedonism. Just more sophisticated.
With that line of thinking, nearly every philosophy is hedonistic, because most involve achieving contentedness in some way, even if it’s in helping others.

Can you flesh out the part between where I explained that nihilists are buzz killing wet blankets and are therefore associated with unhappiness and your conclusion regarding the majority of people not coping with status issues?
Most people like to delude themselves? I don't know, I'm not a fucking social scientist.

With that line of thinking, nearly every philosophy is hedonistic, because most involve achieving contentedness in some way, even if it’s in helping others.

"Involve" is not the same thing as "motivated by."

so why are you on [this board] in the first place?
You are asking me this.... and you are considering I'm a nihilist..?

I'm afraid a definition of WHAT makes a person a nihilist is in order.

EDIT: of course; no true nihilist would give two shits about your definitions...

"Involve" is not the same thing as "motivated by."
Ah, but most philosophies are motivated by the search for contentedness.

"Involve" is not the same thing as "motivated by."

True. Most religions are motivated by the desire to control people. The coin they offer is contentment.

"Involve" is not the same thing as "mivated by."
But isn't that ultimately what everyone is motivated by? Who isn't? Even someone who devotes their entire life to "good works" gets a good feeling out of it. Stoics get pleasure from self-righteousness. Everybody just wants to be happy in their own way, really.

True. Most religions are motivated by the desire to control people. The coin they offer is contentment.
We're talking philosophies, not religions, man.

And, Bunnyducks, I have no idea WTF you're talking about.

And, Bunnyducks, I have no idea WTF you're talking about.
Painfully obvious, that.

But isn't that ultimately what everyone is motivated by? Who isn't? Even someone who devotes their entire life to "good works" gets a good feeling out of it. Stoics get pleasure from self-righteousness. Everybody just wants to be happy in their own way, really.

You're missing the point.

It's true that by definition, one does what one prefers. There are two problems with your extension of this, though.

Firstly, will doing what you prefer always bring contentedness? I would argue that no, that is not always the result; there are times when a person might do something because she feels she has to, even though it will completely ruin her life and obliterate any chance of happiness she has.

Secondly, does this connection matter in terms of what we ought to do? Most people would argue that it doesn't, because even if a person prefers to commit an immoral act (say, murder) it is still wrong. A philosophy based on achieving contentedness would not necessarily say the same thing; rather, it would argue, if that act would help achieve contentedness, it would be perfectly acceptable.

Nihilist t-shirts are a lot cheaper than the ones with slogans. :D

Painfully obvious, that.
So are you basically on this forum to be a total prick?

Nihilist t-shirts are a lot cheaper than the ones with slogans. :D
They are. This link (http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Nihilism) may help.

With that line of thinking, nearly every philosophy is hedonistic, because most involve achieving contentedness in some way, even if it’s in helping others.
That was basically the point raised about rational behaviour in the Flavours of Libertariansim thread.

No, darling. Read about nihilism... You can say I'm a nihilist... I really can not say I'm not a nihilist. Nihilism is nothingness, really (please correct me, people). It's a cussword. I couldn't care less, my posts couldn't mean less... I'm not even glad you read them. A true nihilist wouldn't have bothered 3 posts.

EDIT: And yes, I'm everything but a nihilist. Just passing time.

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?If you're crazy, then I suppose I am too, because I agree with all of this. I do have my depressive episodes I'll admit, but even my happiest days are in full recognition and acceptance of the fact that nothing matters.

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?

Yeah, I've always thought that nihilism leads directly to hedonism, but people say I'm wrong. :(:confused: :(

If you're crazy, then I suppose I am too, because I agree with all of this. I do have my depressive episodes I'll admit, but even my happiest days are in full recognition and acceptance of the fact that nothing matters.
..."And nothing else matters"...
Lordy, I hate that band...

..."And nothing else matters"...
Lordy, I hate that band...Love them myself, actually; in fact, that song is one of my personal favourites :)

Love them myself, actually; in fact, that song is one of my personal favourites :)
Meh. "Nothing Else Matters" is alright, and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" is pretty good, but I think they are way overrated. Plus, they did a crappy version of "Die, Die, My Darling" by Misfits, which, as a diehard Misfits fan, angers me.

That's more like it!
Only a TRUE nihilist would argue the value of "Nothing else matters" over "Welcome home"! Or, value, come to think of it...

ive tried and continue to try this nihilist philosophy, that in the end nothing matters so why bother about things, but despite this, I still bother about things as I cant help it, its in my nature. If I was a true nihilist I wouldnt have conscience either, but I cant seem to get rid of it. woe is me.

You know, the only nihilists that could pull it off that I've seen could only continue not to care because they were so damned high all the time, they didn't have brain space left to care.

Of course, nowadays they work at Wal-Mart and are suddenly quite world-weary.

Seems like if I'm gonna end up depressed at the end of the day either way, I might as well not be bored with existence itself the whole time.

Why do most people seem to associate nihilism with unhappiness, including many nihilists? For me, it’s one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever encountered. Nothing matters. All my failures mean nothing. When I die, my consciousness will cease to exist and no matter how bad the world is, I won’t care.

Being happy feels good. Nothing matters, so there’s no reason not to feel happy.
Am I crazy?

Feeling happy doens't matter. It doesn't matter if you feel comfortable. Nothing matters. It doesn't matter what nihilism leads to.