Nihilism

[Napoléon]

Nihilism as defined as: "the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated." is plainly false, values have their bases in our desires and we can communicate our desires and subsequently our values to others.

It contradicts some forms of Nihilism, the ones that state value is illusory, some however acknowledge subjective value and then precede in ignoring it - I see it ultimately as a futile all-or-nothing philosophy.

I would agree with that.

I would say that value is entirely subjective, but is nihilism not right to disregard it? As a philosophy I mean.

And what do you mean by "all-or-nothing philosophy"?

[theVOID]

I would agree with that.

I would say that value is entirely subjective, but is nihilism not right to disregard it? As a philosophy I mean.

And what do you mean by "all-or-nothing philosophy"?

Yeah, that's my take at least - I couldn't care less if there is no objective meaning, not only would my experience of this objective meaning be indistinguishable from subjective meaning if it did exist and thus be no more important to me, it's non-existence also does nothing to change the subjective value I experience in light of my desires.

I mean all-or-nothing it that it essentially says "either objective meaning exists or it does not exist at all".

[Napoléon]

Yeah, that's my take at least - I couldn't care less if there is no objective meaning, not only would my experience of this objective meaning be indistinguishable from subjective meaning if it did exist and thus be no more important to me, it's non-existence also does nothing to change the subjective value I experience in light of my desires.

I mean all-or-nothing it that it essentially says "either objective meaning exists or it does not exist at all".

Yeah you're absolutely right.

And I would go with the latter part of your final statement

[Violet]

And yet everything exists

Ignore me, I kind of miss butting heads with Doubtie

[Angrboda]

As a theist, I believe that there's a purpose to our existence which is to acknowledge the greatness of our Creator.

So, you've acknowledged his greatness, now what?

"To sum up: 1. The cosmos is a gigantic fly-wheel making 10,000 revolutions a minute. 2. Man is a sick fly taking a dizzy ride on it.
3. Religion is the theory that the wheel was designed and set spinning to give him the ride."

-- H.L. Mencken

[reverendjeremiah]

Nihilism as defined as: "the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated." is plainly false, values have their bases in our desires and we can communicate our desires and subsequently our values to others.

It contradicts some forms of Nihilism, the ones that state value is illusory, some however acknowledge subjective value and then precede in ignoring it - I see it ultimately as a futile all-or-nothing philosophy.

Very good point Void. This is one of the reasons why I shifted from Nihilism to Absurdism, as Absurdism agrees with Nihilisms "cold dark universe" yet also disagrees with Nihilism's view on values by pointing out that value and purpose can be found in the moment even if the Cosmos might not have an inherent value/purpose within it. We are caring humans in an uncaring Cosmos, and thus the absurdity is in the mix of the two..not in one or the other. Value in Absurdism can be very real and dear to its holder, but absurdism warns of philosophical suicide that one must keep in mind that these values are personal and NOT, as they say, "written in stone". Taking a leap of faith by suggesting such a concept as values, even in the slightest degree, is universal, is the same as commiting physical suicide when it comes to escaping the reality of "the cold dark universe".

[Angrboda]

I said I was going to provide a substantive reply. I lied.

I've decided to just shut up and play guitar until I can get these ideas out of my head in a usable form and decide what to do with them.

In the meantime, a few quick observations. I think those who consider nihilism sad or depressing are clueless. Emotions are reactions to facts of the world. Sadness, specifically to the experience of loss. What exactly is it that the nihilist has lost for her to feel sad about? Nothing. You can no more be legitimately sad about a meaning which does not exist than you can hate a god who isn't there. That being said, transitions can be messy. If you are dragging behind you the remnants of a world you are leaving, then sure, we're funny that way. I've spoken with a few ex-theists who experience profound loss and sadness at the change in their world. I fully empathize; I'm sure many of us can. Like the rawness that accompanies the end of a relationship, as animals, we weren't built to go from 0 to 60, and then stop on a dime.

Now, I want to draw your attention to the fact that I am a Taoist, and that it is a cornerstone of Taoism to accept the world for what it is. While Taoism does posit that their is, well, a way of the world which is only ignored at your peril, the Taoist attitude is hardly a stone's throw away from nihilism. The most elegant explanation of this is phrased in a famous Taoist painting known as which that Wikipedia article explains reasonably well in relatively few words.

Now, for what it's worth, I bury my bodies out back before the maggots get to them. They only find their way into my wheaties under exigent circumstances.

More than this, I probably won't say. As a Taoist, sometime anti-realist and newly minted Platonic realist, translations can be arduous, and my philosophies have sharp teeth and a disagreeable attitude.

Ta.

[JohnDG]

I agree with some of the values of nhilisim, however I really like the idea of Metaphysical Nhilisim.

Screw existence, we don't even exist to begin with!

"An extreme form of metaphysical nihilism is commonly defined as the belief that existence itself does not exist."

[Violet]

I agree with some of the values of nhilisim, however I really like the idea of Metaphysical Nhilisim.

Screw existence, we don't even exist to begin with!

"An extreme form of metaphysical nihilism is commonly defined as the belief that existence itself does not exist."

No... those people are just morons

[JohnDG]

I agree with some of the values of nhilisim, however I really like the idea of Metaphysical Nhilisim.

Screw existence, we don't even exist to begin with!

"An extreme form of metaphysical nihilism is commonly defined as the belief that existence itself does not exist."

No... those people are just morons

Moronic, but awesome.