Quote:
Originally Posted by ScientiaOmnisEst
Where on earth does that definition come from? Nihilism as I'm talking about it is the realization that life is inherently meaningless; that the properties we assign to things are not inherent but are human constructs. Nihilism is supposed to involve learning the "truth" about reality.
What I'm suddenly wrestling with now is how the common reaction to nihilism, existentialism, appears to be rooted in delusion. Ascribing meaning where there is none, viewing order and value willfully, despite knowing they're human constructs. I don't know where to go at all. If I go on perceiving things as meaningful, even just to myself, I'll be deluding myself. If I choose to live a subjectivist life, fully indulging my personal viewpoints that keep things meaningful and beautiful, I'm living a lie. But I'm not sure what there is outside of it, other than something obscenely boring. But that weakness is exactly what I'm trying to avoid; being someone who "can't handle the truth".
In all honesty, I"m just drowning in shame and fear right now. I'm paralyzed.
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I looked up nihilism, it is as you say, but does that mean it's true?
Maybe you want to look into existentialism a bit more. I looked on wickipedia, it's not so much about deluding yourself but about creating meaning by the way you live your life.
For example, if, by the way you live, you make someone else's existence on this planet a little easier then that could create meaning as in if you can add to the sum of human happiness (or even just slightly lessen human suffering) maybe something positive has come from your existence.
It may be some art that creates beauty etc.
It seems it is more about facing up to the pointlessness of life and having the courage to create a point to being alive. That, to me is not delusional, it's courageous.
Maybe before you let this person's opinions about nihilism drag you down you want to read the original thoughts of some of the philosophers who came up with these concepts and decide which ones have merit and which seem to be unhelpful to a contented life, rather than go by someone's partial interpretation of what they think the particular philosophical idea might be.
Maybe you want to read some other philosophers before you decide that nihilism is "The Truth"
I like this aphorism from Alfred Delb,
Wenn durch einen Menschen ein wenig mehr Güte und Liebe,
Ein wenig mehr Licht und Wahrheit in der Weld war
Hat sein Leben einen Sinn gehabt.
Roughly translates:
When a person brings a little more goodness and love,
A little more light and truth into the world
Their life has had a meaning/purpose.
(Translation mine, apologies to any linguists and German speakers)
This always encourages me and I think there is truth in it.
