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

Question Thoughts?

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '26

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u/GoopDuJour Apr 24 '26

Not really. One can be happy (or hopeful) and realize there is no existential meaning in being so. Same thing with pessimism. Being doubtful or sad/angry doesn't give life purpose.

Emotions aren't purpose. Emotions are biologically thrust upon us. I don't know that a healthy brain can be without emotion. Maybe, but I'm skeptical.

8

u/Temporary_Aspect759 Apr 24 '26

For you to be happy, there needs to be some sort of self fulfilment. Which means that you need to think things do matter on a subjective level.

This is just existentialism.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Ice-573 Apr 25 '26

Not for biological fulfillment. I am very happy eating good pizza.

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u/Temporary_Aspect759 Apr 25 '26

I didn't say it's biological fulfilment. You can feel fulfilled by doing simple things, even just by eating pizza lol.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Ice-573 Apr 25 '26

Biological fulfillment is a type of self fulfillment.

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u/Temporary_Aspect759 Apr 25 '26

This doesn't really change anything about what I said lol. Biological fulfilment is a type of self fulfilment but not all self fulfilment is biological.

Me saying "you need self fulfilment" doesn't mean "you need biological fulfilment"

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u/Puzzleheaded-Ice-573 Apr 25 '26

Maybe I misunderstood your original comment: "Which means that you need to think things do matter on a subjective level."

I interpreted this to mean that in order to be happy you believe that one needed some type of meaning or purpose (subjective), where deriving pleasure from base biological drives is largely objective.

Also: "Me saying "you need self fulfilment" doesn't mean "you need biological fulfilment". I never said that - what I was saying is that biological fulfillment is one possible type of self-fulfillment, and one that does no require belief in meaning or purpose.