Nihilistic Murderer

[CapnAwesome]

First I need to say that it pains me to be on an opposing side of an argument with you and simultaneously be on the same side of an argument as ChadWooters. I think you are one of the people who I agree with the most on these forums and one of the more pleasant people and also I find him not all that likable (No offense Chad, you can always try to change my mind I guess.)

Right, but that's more about the definition of nihilism. I've discovered that through observing its usage it seems to be ill-defined enough that I don't use it myself.

I don't really know how Nihilism is ill-defined. It seems to have a pretty clear definition to me. I think that problem is that people often times equate Nihilism with poor morals or with depression or hopelessness or something. In reality none of that has anything to do with nihilism. Nihilism is just that things don't really matter.

The value we place is an illusion in the sense that it isn't tangible or objective, but that doesn't mean the value we place itself is meaningless.
Sure, if someone else doesn't find that value within themselves, it will lead them down a path like this guy, but I don't see how one person not valuing our lives precludes me from placing value on our lives.

I totally disagree. This is the same slur that Theists will use towards Atheists. The idea that the bible or their beliefs are what's preventing them from killing people and that if they were all Atheists they would just go out and kill people. Although I'm sure that your intent is not the same you are basically saying the same thing except about Nihilists instead of Atheists. You know why I don't go out and kill people? Because I don't want to. I don't have any desire to kill people. It sounds terrible, killing someone would undoubtedly be the worst moment in my life. I think most sane people agree. You can say 'well nothing matters, might as well go kill people.' I would counter with 'Nothing matters, so I might as well not kill anyone.' I'm a little frightened by this argument. It always sounds (and I am sure that this is not the case for you) that the person wants to go out and do something horrible, but there is some sort of thing preventing them from doing it. With theists it's God but I'm not really sure what it is for Atheists who would use this argument for not being a Nihilist. That's more frightening to me than someone who accepts that our lives lack meaning and chooses to behave well anyway.

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In fact I think atheists who aren't nihilists are being dishonest with themselves on some level.

So you think atheists cannot hold or make moral valuations?

I think this is a poor understanding of Nihilism. I have a moral code because I happen to have one, either because of my environment, choices I've made or perhaps there is a kind of natural morality that is in our DNA so to speak (and that sociopaths happen to lack.) I just accept that my moral code doesn't matter. I don't hurt people because I don't want to.