WHAT IS OPTIMISTIC NIHILISM?

Today we debate the idea of Optimistic Nihilism, as described by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, and what exactly this means going forward. There are two schools of thought in regards to the response to Nihilist ideology, and these are Absurdism and Existentialism, but which does Optimistic Nihilism fall under?

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[noellegennaro]

DUDE! I fucking feel you! I too have been a misunderstood nihilist for many years, and I was also blown away when I stumbled upon the 'optimistic nihilist' video trending the other day, and found that it beautifully and succinctly summed up my personal philosophy. It expressed nihilism perfectly and better than I ever do when trying to explain it.

And now, after watching YOUR video, I am once again floored at seeing something that I relate to so precisely.
. Like you, to feel something resonate this deep is a super rare occurrence, as much content is just not real interesting or valuable to me.

To totally relate twice.... im just like 'dammmmn!'
I just wanted to let u know that I experienced the original video in the same tingly way you did, and that I also appreciated your video as I related to it just as hard... and that is really fucking rare for me and I totally love the occasional times when u feel a meeting of the minds like that. so thanx dude.
In fact, I almost never comment on here, I can't even remember when the last time I did was, but I was so compelled to let you that I relate and I appreciated it.

also, reading some previous comments I just wanted to mention that I have always loved the thought of our consciousness being the the product of the universe evolving to experience itself. Obviously, i feel that it's probably just a coincidence or an inevitable culmination of some physics/natural laws, and that the whole 'we are the universe experiencing itself' is just a cool way to look at it and a meaning I am ascribing to human existance....but it's a cool way to view the history of the universe and life and consciousness, and that's the whole point anyway, as we have the freedom to make our own meaning, or not make any meaning if we don't want to....
or whatever we want.

anyway, thanks again....
I have subscribed and look forward to hearing your other thoughts on science and philosophy and life and shit....

enjoy all your moments, and much love to u.

[Hawke.The.Talontless]

i recently found out my lifelong and unchangeable philosophy has a name. Nihilism (not like the satirical personification of the Germans in The Big Lebowski, more like Jim Carrey) The acceptance of knowing i know nothing, and more specifically accepting that fact humbly, and using it as motivational ammunition to control the resulting self defeating and destructive process of worry, indecisiveness, pessimism and disdain for flaws in all humanity is something that everyone would benefit from. Thus the acceptance of the obligation of our own individual and collective existence(s) and positively applying it will allow us to make our own purposes allowing the ultimate irony --- nihilism, if applied correctly will (and must) defeat itself....

[Rick_Sanchez_Jr.]

I love this video. Finally, someone who doesn't just blindly follow everyone else's opinion on nihilism and regard it in a negative light. There's two sides to everything and it really irks me when people only regard Nihilism in a negative way and give no counter-argument to it being positive. Many other people who can only see the negative side of this philosophy, simply cannot fathom or accept that it might possibly true. Reality is, there is no objective meaning in life. Any "meaning" that you give to life is just ascribed, there is no objective meaning, you give your own meaning to life, but there is no real objective meaning and many people cannot swallow this pill. In my opinion, and many other people's opinion actually, nihilism is liberating and lets you live life without overly caring so much about things that should not be cared about in the first place. It's not simply not caring about anything, but rather choosing carefully about what you should care about. That being said, there is nothing inherently wrong with nihilism. Nihilism is simply a doctrine of rejecting all truth or a philosophy/way of thinking and in my opinion, you can have any opinion you want about the world if it helps you live life easier/be at peace as long as that way of thinking is not harming anyone.

[starprincess]

The ironic thing is, for this whole ear I have struggled to accept in nihilism.. after that video has come out I looked more into it and it's made me come to peace. I can make my own meaning. I can use this experience to spread this phylosophy to someone else and probably help them as well 🖤✨

I don't know if there is a purpose at all so I'm not completely with nihlism but if it doesn't then why shouldn't I be happy?

[rustkarl]

I love this idea that “You are what you make of yourself.”
And
“You have the freedom of your existence” the opportunity to experience life, emotion, pleasure, pain etc.
Meaning or purpose doesn’t come into it.
I can define my existence because nothing and no-one else can or does define it.
Is there any meaning to it? Some plan or point? No.
I just am and I become what I am based on what I think.
And I find peace of mind in this philosophy.

The confusing part for me is where Optimistic Nihilism ends and Existentialism begins.

[SuNNyCheRRy]

I don’t know much about philosophy and the like but I love hearing people with a passion for it talk about it.. This video was the first video I watched after watching the Optimistic Nihilism video and I agree whole heartedly with you about the feeling you got after watching it, , the difference for me was that I didn’t know there was even a term like nihilism.. Now I can go and learn more about it and honestly that’s super exciting to me!! Thank you for the video and your thoughts

[roastfrog_art]

I like the way you're talking, easy to understand and most of them are same as my thoughts(of course not everything but that's good cuz people are different)

[td]

Me too it's crazy how everything I think about was in a 6 min video. It's wild

[gperson]

I can't believe you'd let a dog on that white couch! Unless it is someone else's couch.
Then again, I am biased in favor of cats because I decided it gives my life meaning.
What about the realization that total freedom is actually completely terrifying? Or maybe you're not a fan of Sartre...?