Nihilism to the hardcore extreme.

[Kyokitara]

Well, what do you think about it? Go ahead let it all out.

In my opinion I find it very difficult to not believe in anything. "Not even nihilism." Please shed some light on my position.

[FullxxOfxxIt]

Kyokitara

Well, what do you think about it? Go ahead let it all out.

In my opinion I find it very difficult to not believe in anything. "Not even nihilism." Please shed some light on my position.

What do you mean 'shed some light on my position'?

[program-TAN]

nihilism is pretty much atheist only with one thought attached, and that that religion is a way to help the mind.

[iThe Doctor]

kinda sounds like ur talkin about darth nihilus lol. if it were like that ide be like wooo another SWKOTOR FAN

[Winter of Men]

correct me if im wrong, but isnt nihilism the desire to destroy the world or any established religions rather then the simply refusal to accept a god

[Contagious Cure]

Nihilism to the hardcore extreme? As opposed to what? Nihilism to the softcore conservatism? confused


And seriously; what the ******** is everyone here talking about? Nihilism is not about ******** destruction, you guys have been reading/watching too much Fight Club. It's simply the philosophy that nothing in life has any objective value.

program-TAN

nihilism is pretty much atheist only with one thought attached, and that that religion is a way to help the mind.

Except you have no idea what you're talking about.

Winter of Men

correct me if im wrong, but isnt nihilism the desire to destroy the world or any established religions rather then the simply refusal to accept a god

It's a philosophy, not a desire. What people desire after hearing about a philosophy is their own prerogative.

[DarthFreud]

iAncient

kinda sounds like ur talkin about darth nihilus lol. if it were like that ide be like wooo another SWKOTOR FAN

Another KOTOR I/II fan right here 3nodding .

[Jasmine Snape]

program-TAN

nihilism is pretty much atheist only with one thought attached, and that that religion is a way to help the mind.

That is not what a nihilist believes.
Yes, I nihilist believes there is no God, I'll give you that.
But a nihilist also believes that there is no point to anything.

The funny thing is, that is what we are talking about in class tomorrow Nihilism. This is the second time I've taken the class, and Nihilism is a depressing thing. I almost wish I didn't have to go tomorrow.
At any rate, this is a direct quote from my textbook.
(The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog: Fourth Edition - James W. Sire, InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Illinois: 2004. Pg. 87) - the book in case anyone wants to know or is interested.

"Nihilism is more a feeling than a philosophy. Strictly speaking, nihilism is not a philosophy at all. It is a denial of philosophy, a denial of the possibility of knowledge, a denial that anything is valuable. If it proceeds to the absolute denial of everything, it even denies the reality of existence itself. In other words, nihilism is the negation of everything - knowledge, ethics, beauty, reality. In nihilism no statement has validity; nothing has meaning. Everything is gratuitous, de trop, that is, just there."

- That is the first paragraph within my worldview textbook.
That is what Nihilism is - Denial of everything. A Denial of reality.
Essentially Nihilism denies the existance of eveything. It even denies the existence of itself.

I have a hard time understanding this. How can you believe that reality does not exist? That what you believe and what you think does not even exist. Nothing is important, nothing matters because nothing exists.

I don't understand how someone could think that way and truly believe what they are saying. I know I exist. I know what I believe exists; wheather it's true or false, it exists. My thoughts exist. "I think therefore I am." I know I exist and I know my thoughts exist because I experience and think them. The people who are true ultimate nihilists say that the thoughts that they think and the emotions they feel do not exist. Everything is meaningless and reality is a lie.

I don't understand nihilism at all.
I don't think I ever will.

[Contagious Cure]

Dreaming Beyond Hope

program-TAN

nihilism is pretty much atheist only with one thought attached, and that that religion is a way to help the mind.

That is not what a nihilist believes.
Yes, I nihilist believes there is no God, I'll give you that.
But a nihilist also believes that there is no point to anything.

The funny thing is, that is what we are talking about in class tomorrow Nihilism. This is the second time I've taken the class, and Nihilism is a depressing thing. I almost wish I didn't have to go tomorrow.
At any rate, this is a direct quote from my textbook.
(The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog: Fourth Edition - James W. Sire, InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Illinois: 2004. Pg. 87) - the book in case anyone wants to know or is interested.

"Nihilism is more a feeling than a philosophy. Strictly speaking, nihilism is not a philosophy at all. It is a denial of philosophy, a denial of the possibility of knowledge, a denial that anything is valuable. If it proceeds to the absolute denial of everything, it even denies the reality of existence itself. In other words, nihilism is the negation of everything - knowledge, ethics, beauty, reality. In nihilism no statement has validity; nothing has meaning. Everything is gratuitous, de trop, that is, just there."

- That is the first paragraph within my worldview textbook.
That is what Nihilism is - Denial of everything. A Denial of reality.
Essentially Nihilism denies the existance of eveything. It even denies the existence of itself.

I have a hard time understanding this. How can you believe that reality does not exist? That what you believe and what you think does not even exist. Nothing is important, nothing matters because nothing exists.

I don't understand how someone could think that way and truly believe what they are saying. I know I exist. I know what I believe exists; wheather it's true or false, it exists. My thoughts exist. "I think therefore I am." I know I exist and I know my thoughts exist because I experience and think them. The people who are true ultimate nihilists say that the thoughts that they think and the emotions they feel do not exist. Everything is meaningless and reality is a lie.

I don't understand nihilism at all.
I don't think I ever will.

Nihilism is a good "gateway philosophy" to others such as existentialism and absurdism. As a matter of fact, I don't think you can truly grasp a real appreciation of existentialism without acknowledging nihilism first.

They point to note is that it is a denial of any objective meaning/value/purpose - think of it as universal agnosticism. It's only depressing if you're so tied up with things coming to you with an objective value that you're no longer able to attach your own, subjective and arbitrary values to the things you encounter. Another key note is that arbitrary =/= bad.

[Zephindabius]

Contagious Cure

Nihilism is a good "gateway philosophy" to others such as existentialism and absurdism. As a matter of fact, I don't think you can truly grasp a real appreciation of existentialism without acknowledging nihilism first.

They point to note is that it is a denial of any objective meaning/value/purpose - think of it as universal agnosticism. It's only depressing if you're so tied up with things coming to you with an objective value that you're no longer able to attach your own, subjective and arbitrary values to the things you encounter. Another key note is that arbitrary =/= bad.

Well stated, CC.

Nihilism is an ideal that is highly impractical, it would be very difficult to continue the thought that when a person gets up in the morning, they may still be asleep, they put on clothes that may or may not exist, they walk to the bathroom with legs that may or may not be controlled to their conciousness, brush their teeth to an unknown effect, consume food that may or may not be there by grabbing an entity that might not be physical with what might be their own hands, and put it to an orifice that might be their mouth.
Thats pretty hardcore, to concentrate on all of that.

A nihilist cant prove anything exists, so make no assumptions. But typically, it is very difficult to maintain the idea, especially if all the senses point to the contrary.
ex.
I see the sandwich, I smell the sandwich, I feel the sandwich, I can hear a sound when i squeeze the sandwich, I taste the sandwich. But my senses might not exist, it could all be an elaborate lie. My very thoughts might not be my own. I might not even exist, so how can I prove that this entity that is not a part of me exists?
I would consider it extremely improbable to be a devout nihilist. To focus on the possibility of nonexistence of yourself and everything around you is a tremendous mental strain, at least for me.

[Kalathma]

Zephindabius

Well stated, CC.

Nihilism is an ideal that is highly impractical, it would be very difficult to continue the thought that when a person gets up in the morning, they may still be asleep, they put on clothes that may or may not exist, they walk to the bathroom with legs that may or may not be controlled to their conciousness, brush their teeth to an unknown effect, consume food that may or may not be there by grabbing an entity that might not be physical with what might be their own hands, and put it to an orifice that might be their mouth.
Thats pretty hardcore, to concentrate on all of that.

A nihilist cant prove anything exists, so make no assumptions. But typically, it is very difficult to maintain the idea, especially if all the senses point to the contrary.
ex.
I see the sandwich, I smell the sandwich, I feel the sandwich, I can hear a sound when i squeeze the sandwich, I taste the sandwich. But my senses might not exist, it could all be an elaborate lie. My very thoughts might not be my own. I might not even exist, so how can I prove that this entity that is not a part of me exists?
I would consider it extremely improbable to be a devout nihilist. To focus on the possibility of nonexistence of yourself and everything around you is a tremendous mental strain, at least for me.

Haha... Lately, the existence of things and myself have been the one of the only constant thoughts in my head. I've become kind of... not obsessed, but kind of attached (?) to Descartes' theory. [ http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/DA026SECT1 ]

I think it's easy to believe in nothing because I think I do. Like... Why should anyone believe in anything or anyone? I mean, it would be much easier if everyone did so. I think it becomes easier to just live without being so preoccupied with thoughts of 'homgamigonnagotohell?' or 'homg!iwasjustfired!'

...I'm not too sure what I'm typing and it's all rather very confusing. Perhaps I should edit this post after I get some sleep. sweatdrop

[iThe Doctor]

DarthFreud

iAncient

kinda sounds like ur talkin about darth nihilus lol. if it were like that ide be like wooo another SWKOTOR FAN

Another KOTOR I/II fan right here 3nodding .

looking forward to 3 if they make it