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Comment by jp555 | Hacker News Reader

“And nihilism isn't a bad thing.“

Becoming unwilling to manifest any faith in anything at all is absolutely a bad thing.

That... is not what Nihilism is though?

I mean someone who is a nihilist might think that but it’s not a logical consequence of, or foundational feature of, nihilism.

It sort of is, though. Nietzsche in particular didn't actually portray nihilism as a good thing, but just an inevitable stage in human development, which could be either very good or very bad depending on what kind of values system (if any) arose from that nihilism. There are in my opinion some similarities between the direction we're heading and what he called "The Last Man", which was basically the worst possible outcome of nihilism.

There is more - a lot more - to nihilism than Nietzsche.

Of course there is. I was just trying to point out that the views on it, even from the perspective of nihilists, isn’t necessarily that nihilism is a “good thing”.

Humans focus on what they look at, compounding into a perspective, belief, and actions.

You can’t work to think nothing is of any consequence and simultaneously work to build anything of value (family, friendships, business, intellect, etc). Nihilism is the abolishment of value systems. Nothing matters. Building things of value requires a system to evaluate value.

No, nihilism is the denial of any intrinsic value, we are still all free to make up and agree on our own values if we want, but it would be because we decided to, as untethered things in a meaningless expanse.

Ah I see so deciding, as in to act as though something is intrinsically true. Is it just me that these things so often seem like arguing about semantics? Or are we talking more about weight (extrinsic) vs. mass (intrinsic)?

Of course "people of faith" are going to chime in and say nihilism is evil... Also, you have to give yourselves up to Jesus to do good or be happy.

Your reference to "faith in anything" is most likely referring to a central being controlling everything (see: god), as faith in something/anyone doesn't give that something meaning. Nihilism doesn't necessary refer to faith, it's typically referring to existential nihilism, or that nothing has an intrinsic meaning. Nothing comes with meaning. This isn't something to despair, you have full ability to give things meaning. What I'm getting at is more in the realm of optimistic nihilism, or that ability to give your own meaning to things, as they didn't have any intrinsic meaning to begin with. That game you're playing? Some might think of it as a waste but you gave it the meaning of happiness. That flower you're smelling didn't come with meaning by default, but you gave it the meaning of beauty. I would argue faith can be a burden more than nihilism as blind faith can lead to complacency. Again, complacency might not be the worst thing until you give that meaning.

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