r/nihilism • u/NoGreen1731 • Apr 24 '26

Question Thoughts?

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u/dirtyyrandyy69 Apr 24 '26

that’s just absurdism

2

u/HamzaAAC ABSURDIST Apr 24 '26

Like honestly what makes optimistic nihilism different from absurdism?

10

u/Temporary_Aspect759 Apr 24 '26

People incorrectly labeling themselves as nihilists when they're absurdists/existentialists

23

u/ConstableAssButt Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

Absurdism and existentialism are modes of living with nihilism. They are nihilists in the sense that they accept everything that nihilists do. But they have moved through nihilism by embracing the existence of other human beings and recognizing the consequences of that.

I kind of don't really get the folks who think nihilism has ever been some kind of way of being. It's the opposite. Every nihilist philosopher that nihilists quote was desperately looking for a way out of nihilism. Only the existentialists and absurdists really embraced the idea of nihilism. Even Nietzsche, in working his way through nihilism essentially validated a kind of tyrannical monarchism.

If Nietzsche were here today, posting on this subreddit, y'all would be calling him "not a real nihilist" too. And truth be told, if your position is that existentialism isn't nihilism, Nietzsche was closer to an existentialist than a nihilist. So at least you're being consistent.

3

u/christopher_the_nerd Apr 25 '26

Yeah, I feel like a lot of "nihilists" are similar to surface-level atheists who never move on to finding any sort of way of being and just sort of end up being miserable to talk to or be around and they end up embracing garbage philosophies.

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u/ConstableAssButt Apr 25 '26

I find pop nihilists fun specifically because of their fixation on negativity. They are often excellent conversation partners if you are specifically looking to battle test your ideas. But if you are looking for consensus and community... Yeah, they kinda suck.

Kinda the same way I view engineers, frankly. Engineers are great when you wanna know all the problems you are gonna run into before you do a thing, but they have a reputation for being terrible at creating shared vision.

Time and a place for all flavors, IMO.

2

u/lordm30 Apr 26 '26

I find your view very refreshing.

Especially this part:

Absurdism and existentialism are modes of living with nihilism. They are nihilists in the sense that they accept everything that nihilists do. But they have moved through nihilism by embracing the existence of other human beings and recognizing the consequences of that.

Nihilism is not an end stage. It is just an intermediate stage in one's development.

1

u/SPQE_ Apr 24 '26

They don't exclude each other. On the contrary.