• 27 days ago. My understanding of nihilism is that it is just as the Latin translation states "nothing". Even if we accept that we are all going to suffer and die, and for no reason at all,. Nihilism: Beyond Optimism and Pessimism. Pessimistic views are generally mediated by the right-hemisphere (RH), whereas optimistic attitudes are mediated primarily by the left-hemisphere (LH). That's why they are so similar as well. But I guess some people insist on keeping their heads in the sand and believe that life can always be good. You can get to the point where you realize nihilism is empowering, or you can fill that void with something like religion. This is because of the upbringing they gave you and the positive relationship you continue to experience with them. Yes this is what I was attempting to get at, in a way it is a combination of nihilism mixed with stoicism, we can look up to. Optimistic Nihilism leads Elias through life, providing a foundational philosophy that while life is inherently meaningless, we might as well figure out how to be happy during our. Nihilism lets you see things in a logical, practical lense. Prima facie grounding for this assertion is that Qoheleth, like Benatar, raises the issue of whether coming into existence may be a harm—and gives an affirmative answer. Not really, absurdism is the idea that life has no intrinsic meaning, but the meaning you assign to it is real. People mistakenly believe that nihilism gives others a reason act like criminals and sociopaths. We don’t chose how optimistic or pessimistic we feel once we come to a nihilistic view, so pessimism is not inherently wrong, and neither is optimism or stoicism. They are cynic or pessimistic stories. ago. Im a nihilist and have recently stumbled upon this subreddit. The first type is life-affirming, the second type is pessimistic, the third type is indifferent, clinical and materialistic and the forth type is dehumanizing and immoral. (I 27). Keywords the will suffering pain boredom the will-to-live asceticism Buddhism The World as Will and Representation atheism 13 votes, 23 comments. Finally, pessimism is not nihilism. CryptoApproaching the most representatively “pessimistic” poem, as it would later be seen, of these early productions, Fraser’s noted the redaction of “Empedocles on Etna” in 1853 but only to say nothing should be remarked of it. There are many who would call themselves "Nihilists", who seem to fundementally misunderstand nihilism as being inherently…Pessimistic nihilism is actually a spin-off cynicism, pessimism, mix. Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash. . This is a pessimistic nihilism; Instead the Nazis is optimistic. Sports. Both say there is no objective meaning, however existentialism says you can arbitrarily assign meaning to things while existential nihilism asserts there is no meaning whatsoever. nihilism: [noun] a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless. thus you percieve it to be harsh…Actually Nietzsche hated nihilism because it was the negation of life. So, in a way, depressed people don't adapt nihilism as a philosophy, but rather adapt it as a current emotion due to depression. com!It is about recognizing that we have the power to create our own paths and to find meaning in our own way, rather than relying on external sources of meaning or purpose. As an existential nihilist you accept that life is not only meaningless but also that there’s no point in trying to give meaning to it. Bingo. I mean no matter how you cut the pie of nihilism, pessimistic or optimistic its still a pie that taste like shit lol. Nothing created us. 'Nihilism’ is based on the Latin word for `nothing’: nihil. Plenty of people are perpetually miserable and aren’t nihilistic. So criticizing pessimistic nihilism becomes their only way to cope. Depression is a physical and psychological ailment not explicitly related to the philosophy or the ideas of Nihilism. Just to note, the word nihilism may refer to several different views in philosophy. Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge. Nietzsche recognized passive nihilism in the pessimistic philosophy of Schopenhauer and in Buddhism. Emotions are real, they emerge from the very complicated neural network we have in our frontal lobe. All your grudges, worries, and regrets are trivial in hindsight. To fixate and get lost in this unfortunate reality - that meaning is only of us - is to lose sight of the core of it all:the whole positive/negative nihilist thing is a false dichotomy. Some theories are quite a bit more pessimistic. Answers like this highlight the moral skeptic and pessimistic nature of nihilism. Everything is nothing, including the consciousness of. Pessimism. Emotions are real, they emerge from the very complicated neural network we have in our frontal lobe. The true value of nihilism is how it frees us from the constraints of society to forge ahead as individuals rather than members of a crowd. People assume that if you're a nihilist that you're hellbent on mass destruction or a depressed edgy teenager who doesn't have a social life. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. A philosophy that seeks to understand the meaning of life—or lack thereof. Many truly lose their will to live. Epistemological Nihilism . The paradox of nihilism is a family of paradoxes regarding the philosophical implications of nihilism, particularly situations contesting nihilist perspectives on the. 104. ” (p. In my mind, this is a rather satisfying definition of nihilism, and it fits with most -- although not all (see GM I 12) [2]-- of Nietzsche's remarks about nihilism in the Genealogy, i. We can 100% provide help for depressed people, but we shouldn’t call their emotions. An optimistic nihilist basically reaches the following conclusion: “Since there is no grand scheme here, I can, myself, decide what I should do with my life. Find more similar words at wordhippo. 29 December 2011. don't exsist in an… i was surprised too. Positive Nihilists likewise, if pessimistic nihilists want plus, to get to zero, positive optimistic nihilists want to maintain positivity if not improve it. Hello all, TLDR: I need criticisms of nihilism. There is an apparent contradiction between cosmic pessimism, existential nihilism and involvement in the things of the world. However, at the core is a deep pessimistic nihilism. There are many flavors of this belief, and they are commonly—but not necessarily—paired with hedonism, pessimism, and cynicism. In the 20th century, nihilism. purposes,” much less whether pessimistic beliefs are philosophically justifiable (1967, 244). True nihilistic stories don't deal in absolutes. Importantly, Nihilism is simply the “lack of. There is no such thing as a fundamental nihilist : Metaphysical nihilism, Epistemological nihilism, Mereological nihilism, Existential nihilism, Moral nihilism, Political nihilism, to name but a few. The three-profile models comprised a group of ambivalents. En él el nihilismo, por primera vez, se hace consciente. (I have a much more pessimistic view of humans now than then, even with transhumanism and whatnot). Buddhism is not Annihilationism because it establish idea of karma (i. Joyous nihilism was that experienced by those few who, like him, experienced the loss of an externally created and imposed moral structure as a liberation and not a great loss, and was the seed that. e. The philosophy of pessimistic nihilism is explained through Filthy Frank’s character. A Pessimism Primer David Benatar September 27, 2022 1 Image by Derek Robinson from Pixabay This post is a part of an ongoing biweekly series on philosophical. One is the role of nihilism in contemporary metaethical debates. Nietzsche recognized passive nihilism in the pessimistic philosophy of Schopenhauer and in Buddhism. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Nihilism is the idea that nothing really matters. that's the. “Certainty is not to be had. The link between pessimism and nihilism is present, but the former does not necessarily lead to the latter, as philosophers such as Albert Camus believed. In a much more recent iteration, we inhabit an unimaginably complex computer simulation. His novel Guernica Night is so relentlessly downbeat as to be almost unreadable. The association between nihilism and depression is entirely reasonable. S Eliot seems to be the most pessimistic poet in terms of his reaction to Nihilism, of the anarchy, plight, loneliness and pathos in a world without any presence of a supreme being. So whose imagination is it that there are so many needless and preventable problems? No one in the 21st-century should be without clean drinking water, without good food, and without shelter, and all parents should have adequate resources to be good parents, and yet, I am told that billions are economically suffering,. The pessimist fears it is true. Another example is if my worldview is that everyone should recycle to keep the environment clean, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't feel. fleamont. Being pessimistic or optimistic is related to a person's emotions. Time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted. That's it. anyways, people should be free to draw their own conclusions on whether they are pessimistic or. It's not pessimistic nihilism - it's just how nihilism is. In two passages, Eccl 6:1–6. Nope. I was with OP until they suggested that pessimistic nihilism is badly interpreted nihilism. e. Crypto Existential nihilism != existentialism. I know that nihilism is an ideology that says everything is meaningless and at some point, we're all going to die. The paradox of nihilism is a family of paradoxes regarding the philosophical implications of nihilism, particularly situations contesting nihilist perspectives on the nature and extent of subjectivity within a nihilist framework. Just start running, run away from your thoughts. Nietzsche’s mature philosophy may be interpreted as an. Are you familiar with optimistic absurdism? ChatGPT Mar 23…Pessimism, Nihilism and Absurdism, sometimes described as emotional outlooks, sometimes seen as a philosophical theories. I know it, it’s a cross over no one asked for, but here you are. "If nothing matters, I don't matter". 10. Many here are what can be labeled, "Misanthropic or Pessimistic Nihilists". It's similar to your simulation argument, your post-modern argument, or any other theory which closes the future. Coins. And in some ways, nihilism alleviates my. I look up to heaven only when I want to sneeze. The meaning of NIHILISM is a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless. The correct thing would be to act as a monk, detached from material issues, as recommended by pessimistic philosophers, with Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) being the most illustrious of them, although we can go back in. Nihilism is nihilism, no shit. nihilism is whatever i don't like and the less i like it the more nihilist it is. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things. A. Pessimists, on the other hand, tend to be arrogant, trying to assign objective value to. Pessimistic nihilism is the type that's often associated with nihilism in general. One main component of nihilistic thought, especially according to Nietzsche, is the progressive deconstruction of. It is based on a deep-seated belief that there is no intrinsic purpose to life. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥವನ್ನು ಓದಿ. there no any absolute nihilist in the world. Such a lack of awareness is the point of nihilism, as nihilism is all about hiding from despair rather than dwelling. It's the reason Nietzsche made it his mission to defeat nihilism by the transvaluation of all values. The idea that all our societal progress has been futile and exists as a quick, inconsequential blip, is largely terrifying. The problem I see is that optimism means, simply, hopefulness or confidence about the FUTURE success of something. Emans56 • 3 yr. Edit: However, I don't think that makes posting what the alleged 14-year-olds are posting any better, considering that the fact that the lack of variety in discussions revolving Nihilism doesn't make the edgy content any better than it really is, and a lot of people actually still have questions that aren't easily answered through. The video covers the perspective of a pessimistic nihilist and the example being Papa Franku. Ironically, they tried to make it available to the public, but nobody joined in other than other youth. Ironic considering we are talking about nihilism of the past and modern, as which pessimistic nihilism of hopelessness is more modern. People who are depressed, consumed by nihilism, pessimism, will not produce offspring, because they are also anti-natalists, and so on. ~ Ivan Turgenev. This is so because,. Epistemological Nihilism . The. r/IdeologyPolls A chip A chipThe pessimistic tenor strikes the poem in the ultimate stanza where the speaker states in clear terms that Mr. While traditional nihilism can be viewed as pessimistic due to its stance on life’s inherent lack of meaning, optimistic nihilism takes this realization and frames it positively. Over the past couple years I keep seeing the same discussion about optimistic vs pessimistic nihilism and how no inherent…11 votes, 19 comments. Here's how you can turn it into true optimistic nihilism: I have very high ambitions and think I could do something for humanity in my lifetime - and then going back to pessimistic nihilism and thinking it will eventually be turned to nothingness like everything else, so why pushing it?CallmeOzymandias Nihilism at it's most basic is just the belief that life has no inherent meaning. r/Absurdism •. Business, Economics, and Finance. That's it. The term was famously used by Friedrich Nietzsche to describe the disintegration of traditional morality in Western society. What Johnson contends, though, is that both health within an antiblack racist world and liberation from an antiblack racist world ultimately depend on the pursuit of a specific mode of black nihilism—namely, strong black nihilism. Being optimistic about it is a choice of perspective that takes a person somewhere else philosophically other than nihilism. I wouldn't personally choose to be miserable, but for anyone else my choice means nothing. Life to me is neutral as well--and society is like clay or water taking different shapes and always changing. Despite this, however, many of them also observe that I. A depressed person would say "life is meaningless", but the moment they're no longer depressed, they don't even ponder such a topic. e. Este es un nihilismo pesimista; En lugar de los nazis es optimista. Nihilism is a naturally developed system by the human brain that weeds out weak organisms incapable of survival. Those are usually the most pessimistic of all three. For example, Schopenhauer is a pessimistic philosopher, but he isn't a nihilist, since he still has a system of values, from legalizing suicide to antinatalism. The same reason why pessimistic Nihilism is just as valid as optimistic Nihilism - perspective. At the fundamental level of our existence everything we strive to achieve or had, every horror that we have experienced or that is too come truly bears no significance ,is meaningless and empty. Pessimism involves the belief that bad things will happen or that things will get worse, but this does not require nihilism. ”. I'd highly recommend Texhonlyze, Black Lagoon, Berserk, Gantz, Darker Than Black, Bokurano and Serial Experiments Lain. And you dont have to be depressed to dislike something, thats like saying of you dont like dogs you have mental illness. 13 votes, 23 comments. Original Nihilism definitely is, believing that life is meaningless, and ending all life is the goal we should all strive for. Nevertheless, Turgenev’s use of the word to describe the views he attributed to. Confusing Existentialism With Existential Crisis. This, for Nietzsche, is nihilism: it judges the value of human life according to an eternal realm that is no. You’ll usually hear something like “everything is. The term nihilism comes from the Latin word ‘nihil’ which literally means “nothing. I’m arguing that it’s not, however, to have a balanced argument i want to explore some criticisms of nihilism. 'Nothing matters' is used when talking from. Being pessimistic or optimistic is related to a person's emotions. Those feelings are totally valid…Nihilism reminds us that we are not gods, and that despite all of the accomplishments and wonders of civilization, humans cannot alter the fact that they possess only a finite amount of mastery and control over their own destinies. The chapter shows that Schopenhauer remains a major influence in Nietzsche’s mature thought. This can. With respect to the universe, existential nihilism suggests that a single human or even the entire human species is insignificant, without purpose and unlikely to change in the totality of existence. If nihilism is true, then nothing I do really matters; so I can choose what to do and not stress about it instead. That is to say they both recognize the disparity between the reality of thought and. I'm more inclined to pessimistic nihilism because no matter what works I may accomplish in life. He doesn't ever get grouped in with the classical. Uprooting cultural nihilism was the task he set for the future ubermensch,. e. It's like saying I'm an optimistic worker or I'm a optimistic. A pessimist and an optimist. To assume is to make a guess. MineDogger • 5 yr. Table of Contents (click to expand) Pessimistic Generalization; Nihilism Vs The World; Conclusion: When Life Gives You Lemons; Because nihilism denies the meaning one could subjectively attribute to something, which robs one of the agency one seems to be already exercising, the actors in the process of meaning-making (i. This choosing to live a humanistic life brings them peace- even though it is logically absurd. Nihilism has different flavors to it. I get the rant though, as someone who also lives with a religious family and leans towards misanthropy. UpToWord. Those who ascribe to this idea enjoy the freedom inherent in this idea - you have the ability to choose how you spend your life. What Johnson contends, though, is that both health within an antiblack racist world and liberation from an antiblack racist world ultimately depend on the pursuit of a specific mode of black nihilism—namely, strong black nihilism. CryptoSo, off we go, Top 10 nihilist anime characters. Philosophically, Pessimism is about the idea that we don't live in a good world and there are no true signs of a better future. Personally, I don't see nihilism as pessimistic or optimistic, but nuetral. • 3 yr. Is it just that absurdism stresses that though we know the existence of humanity is insignificant, we should still strive to find meaning, while optimistic nihilists are content with there. Anyways, yeah, fuck pessimistic nihilismFrom what i know nihilism isnt something pessimistic or optimistic its just a blank state of nothing matters so nihilism being "Optimistic" just either seems like an oxymoron An oxymoron is when you combine two words that are apparently contradictory. The fact of the matter is that pessimistic nihilism is taking the easy way out. As one commentator has since noted, the entry concludes with a. To Tower comes a war in red; an orphan sounds the empire's call. Breaking Through to a Suicidal Mind. One reason this philosophy may be seen as pessimistic is that this can be scary - and hard. Mike Thorn Author. Sentences. This video will explain the differe. This article presents the variety of ways that this lateralization of optimism and pessimism is manifested in the thoughts, feelings, decisions and behaviors of healthy and unhealthy people. Just because life has no intrinsic meaning does not mean that you cannot create meaning for yourself. Optimistic nihilism is the ability of a person to create his own meaning after fully accepting that the universe is a large place of meaninglessness. Nihilistic Quotes. To sum nihilism as pessimistic, as Nietzsche himself did at times, is to miss half of the point. I consider myself to be a nihilist, as I find it obvious that morality, purpose, meaning, free will, etc. For the first time, in him nihilism becomes conscious. Optimistic nihilism is just the “woke” reckoning that nihilism really isn’t as bad as everyone said it was. Business, Economics, and Finance. , that it is a form of Buddhism (GM P 5), based on the judgment that existence is worthless (GM II 21), and associated with a will to nothingness (GM II 24 and. 9. Nihilism and cynicism are always going to be an easier path because they require nothing of you except a shoulder shrug and an eyeroll. Business, Economics, and Finance. Nihilism is just the belief that life doesn't have objective meaning. We are talking about pessimistic nihilism. I just wanted to clear this up because I see a lot of pessimists who think they are nihilists (you can be both, but it's not the same). I don't understand this. Nihilism: History, Philosophy, Theories. Pessimistic nihilism is a. Nihilism has been misread in modern pop culture and used as an excuse to be a shitty human being and/or wallow in self loathing and apathy. So, if Nihilism isn't necessarily pessimistic, then optimistic nihilism can't be an oxymoron. Don't frame them as "good" or "evil", as "villains" or "heroes". 5. 46-47) These themes are also dealt with in an essay by Nishitani on “Science and Zen” (in The Buddha Eye: An Anthology of the Kyoto School, New York: Crossroad, 1982; reprinted by World Wisdom, 2004. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. It rejects various aspects of human existence that are generally accepted and considered fundamental, like objective truth, moral truth and the value and purpose of life. I know see much of this as partly a result of a very primitive (not implying primitive necessarily is bad) naturalistic metaphysic that distorts what love is and reduces it to a good feeling for the one loving, on an ethical level somewhat. It’s not that we’re doomed to live in a meaningless universe–it’s that we get the chance to experience ourselves and the universe we share. To ask whether Buddhism is or is not a form of passive nihilism is to ask whether the summum bonum of Buddhism, nirvāna, can be understood in this sense. Some users here seem to confuse existential nihilism with existentialism (or vice versa), but they aren't completely the same. Quotes tagged as "nihilistic" Showing 1-27 of 27. Derived from the Latin word ‘nihil’ meaning ‘nothing’, Nihilism was quite possibly the most pessimistic school of philosophy. Nihilism may be understood as a combination of theses. True nihilistic stories don't deal in absolutes. Jalleia • 2 mo. how do i consider and eat my club sandwich from the absurdist point of view. This will also probably good for a lot of your edgelords who think nihilism is depression, lack of fulfillment, and/or suffering. That is my first reservation, and my second is; I can guarantee you no one lives a nihilistic life successfully. Conversationally we might. Thus, for Nietzsche, whereas Schopenhauer’s rejection of optimism is to be commended, his pessimistic alternative is to be similarly rejected. Realizing that life has no meaning does not require living a boring or sad existence. It begins with an account of the philosopher’s theory of the will as the fundamental metaphysical principle of the universe. Others lack the mental fortitude to accept it, and wallow in it. ago. Nihilism to me is the critique of unexamined quasi-religious beliefs. There are a. Schopenhauer seems to concede that it is impossible to escape nihilism (even with the strictest ascetic discipline), and in the end everything dies and disappears into nothingness. Existential nihilism is the belief that life has no intrinsic meaning or value. The problem with pessimistic nihilism is that it doesn’t make any sense. Nihilism was eventually infused with the existentialist focus on individual experiences to create existential nihilism, a skeptical and pessimistic ideology that sees all existence as meaningless. I choose to maximize my pleasure, minimize my pain, live life but not fear death. Fear and pain are essential features for survival. I found that my mostly secularized Buddhism was gravitating me towards pessimistic nihilism myself, and decided I would look into the theistic arguments for the existence of God, as well as Catholic theology, again. The quote is often misunderstood or taken out of context. Given the large overlap, it can be incredibly hard to actually distinguish the three, and it shows in most of your examples. Free from constraint and false purpose, and free to focus on the only important thing, improving one. ¹ The nihilistic portion of pessimistic nihilism promotes the rejection of tradition, religion, and morals because it is meaningless. This is empowering. You can find this assertion in both popular and academic literature, yet as widespread as it is, it isn't really an accurate portrayal of. Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. Nihilism in the traditional sense (not counting the meaning of Nihilism in 19th Century Russia and in Nietzsche) is the death of all great narratives about History and existence, the meaninglessness of all values. I've noticed that a lot of INTPs are nihilists, cynical and/or pessimistic. “I think human consciousness is a tragic misstep in evolution,” mutters Matthew McConaughey’s Rust Cohle in his version of ride-along small talk with partner Marty Hart (Woody. In a way that deeply misrepresents the concept to those unfamiliar with it. It suggests that each human and even the entire human species is insignificant, without purpose, and unlikely to change in existence’s totality. Hope and optimism are similar but distinct concepts. But optimistic nihilism is more along the lines of, "nothing matters, so I can make my own meaning". ”. Nihilism: nothing has meaning in it itself. This article dives specifically into pessimistic nihilism and how to. I see so many posts here of people freaking out over the fact that r/nihilism is host to depressed people or pessimists. It doesn’t all have to be this way, though. Really, the economy is imaginary. Besides, it's an opposing view. Business, Economics, and Finance. An exemple of not-pessimist nihilism is Nietzsche or Camus. But this is a necessary evil in order to try and prevent future players from being introduced into this game. Every time someone expresses negative thoughts on life, some people are quick to point out that "nihilism isn't depression", even though most pessimists don't have depression. Malzberg, a little-know (I think) 70s-era sci-fi author, wrote some of the more pessimistic science fiction I've read, especially In the Enclosure, which has one of the more bleak and heartbreaking finales this side of Kafka. Abstract. I appreciate this post so much and the fact that. The association between nihilism and depression is entirely reasonable. Many people seem to believe that optimism and happiness and pleasure are the only valid responses. Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. So yesterday I was discussing my future career plans with my father, who is traditional in thoughts and stoic in actions…If one investigates nondualism forums and communicators, one will find a mix of spirituality, optimism, and some metaphysical woo. I think the "pessimist" and "optimist" modifiers for "nihilism" aren't really the best words to capture what people seem to mean by the terms "optimistic nihilism" and "pessimistic nihilism". Antinatalists refrain from procreating to spare their descendants from all the suffering that is an inherent part of existence. Nihilism is not an all encompassing thing. It is based on a deep-seated belief that there is no intrinsic purpose to life. , you, me, your neighbor, society at large) do not see nihilism positively. Business, Economics, and Finance. 2. "God is dead" remains one of the most famous quotes from the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. 39 authors created a book list connected to nihilism, and here are their favorite nihilism books. I remember Ergo Proxy having some existential themes but it’s been years since I’ve seen it. Nihilism is now a pervasive feature of Western society. Nothing is nothing. Today’s. And that it sucks to have to go through life when there's nothing of value and nothing ever worth doing. If life is suffering, living is to find something worth suffering for. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Join. I never said that nihilism is about suffering, I said that life is about suffering. Logic says that there has to be "something" for there to be "nothing" but that seems more like an assumption due to our dualistic pattern-seeking brains. . They should not seek change, that is purpose, value. It suggests that, since there’s no predefined purpose, individuals are free to create their own meaning and approach life with optimism. For me it's wiser because you see the world for what it really is. . Metaethics is the branch of moral philosophy that is concerned with the ontology and epistemology of moral claims. Cosmic nihilism leads to atheism – the repudiation of the God-concept. ago. If Pessimistic Realism were true, possibly we would realise more value in our lives if we believed Nihilism rather than Pessimistic Realism. Nihilism comes from the word ‘nihil’, which means ‘nothing’. Fun fact. Nihilism brings everything to the same level. In doing so, active nihilism becomes a transitional stage rather than an end in itself. That is why nihilism is divided into two; pessimistic nihilism and optimistic nihilism. Optimistic nihilism can be an incredibly empowering belief. When there is no meaning, all that's left is choice. 190 votes, 73 comments. Nihilism was a widespread school of philosophy that emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries throughout much of Europe and beyond. They’re similar, but different. I also just got sick of myself wallowing in pessimistic nihilism. I can't seem to attach myself to one side only. I see a lot of posts talking about suicide and ending one's life because nothing matters. We are talking about pessimistic nihilism. Nihilism is a descriptive philosophy, not a prescreptive one. nihilism is just understanding that nothing matters and that's all. Optimistic Nihilism. Since value based statements either declare their meaning, or imply it. This can be a very negative and depressing way to view the world. nihilism is just understanding that nothing matters and that's all. You're coming very close, yet not hitting the mark.