Well all yee who want to know i have written a book and placed my thoughts therein! Thank you all for being so lovely and supportive. I love you all www.amazon.ca/dp/B0927X3BTS/ref=cm_sw_r_sm_apa_glt_GD06W99M6T9Y5WYC8FFE
I think this video is absolutely stupid. Frederick Nietzsche said that if god is dead, we then need to create a god. Meaning that if no actual god exists to give us meaning, we then would need to create it ourselves. It’s worth being said that it really seems to mean something for this person to make a video about how nothing means anything. I love how the premise of this video immediately makes everything said in it irrelevant. Furthermore, just because a “bad thing” is no longer happening doesn’t negate the psyche being a prerequisite for the human condition. The lasting effects of serious trauma on the conscious and subconscious are much more profoundly significant than to have the cure to them be some simpleton explain the expiration of their experience. In my opinion it seems like the person in this video is on drugs, and thinks they’re the first person to say some stupid s*** like this.
Nihilism is freedom and happiness, nothing matters.........I find this to be such a comforting thought a happy thought. I don’t understand why people think nihilism is depressing
well I was one of these people, and my life was really tough because I was looking for meaning in everything I did and then you know that shit drove me crazy and depression. Nihilism is freedom as you said, now the only thing I care about is enjoy the present moment.
@@vincentalexander5242 yes narcissists are what's wrong with the world the ego is chaotic and it drives people to madness which is really unnecessary and irrational in it's entirety
Since getting into and actually thinking about nihilism and watching videos, there are all these people taking about "overcoming" the nihilism crisis...for me (someone filled with anxiety and a ton of type A personality traits), nihilism offers great freedom. We worry too much about the day-to-day and what we accomplish or don't accomplish. And the reality is if we can accomplish something great, well great; if not, that's good too--we still might as well enjoy our time because either way we're going to end up dead...that's the end point, the final result regardless of what we do in between birth and death. But still we're stuck with this time on earth, so makes since to at least experience happiness. Thanks for the reminder by making this video.
@@spacemonkeydoom6116 NOOOO! To live is to risk it all, otherwise you're just an inert chunk of randomly assembled molecules drifting wherever society directs you.
Walt F. Im pretty sure it was mushrooms.. I had this very same epiphany realization, i understood it but i didn't at the same time.. It helped me to realize that death isnt a bad thing at all and nothing to cry over, its just apart of life. It helped me to realize that pain is evident but suffering is a choice.
it's really nothing spectacular to have this knowledge, really no need for shrooms or whatever. If you take time to actually think you will eventually realise big things.. But he starts the video with a pretty big presumption; there is nothing greater than this world? That is just a belief and to be honest it is a silly belief if your goal is to 'apreciate the beauty of this life'. Surely a belief that there is something greater than us would be more beneficial for his viewpoint, for his way of life? You have the abbility to choose what to believe after all.. The fact that there is something greater out there just makes life even more beautiful and mysterious. A sense of adventure is a big part of joy, if joy really is your greatest desire.
Matija Volk I agree (with the first part of your comment), if you overthink enough you come to the same conclusion, I did when i was 15, but I gotta say there’s not that many people that believe in this, I guess the hard part is accepting that nothing really matters, some people don’t want to cope with the idea that this world has no actual meaning, but once you realize that it’s full clarity
@@lieberte i think the point is u cant know for sure , u have no real idea. it could be nothing, even if it is nothing, proceed with how you should live your life..
This is exactly how I feel...which is why I often didn’t know if I even WAS a nihilist. I enjoy my life...I teach children...I enjoy it. Do I believe I was touched my an ethereal being with a preordained purpose to do this in my lifetime? No. I chose it myself. And it’s BEAUTIFUL. I enjoy each day as an opportunity to keep doing it. It could end at any time. And I’ll just be gone. It doesn’t bother me! I don’t need some higher purpose granted to me from higher power.
I am definitely enjoying the Salt n Vinegar chips I am eating at this moment. Should I live to see the next couple of hours, I will go buy some more and enjoy the moment as a bitter sweet moment!
Looks like my response is a few years late, but I too came from the aforementioned video. I find your point about "nothing matters because the universe will eventually end" to be really compelling. I would like to provide a counter point, if possible. You're rightfully correct in stating that any of our actions will have no effect on the inevitability of the end of times, but I disagree that our actions are without change or impact. I could start a charity that benefits lower income families by supplementing their income to help pay rent. That would have a huge impact on the lives of others, possibly even affecting generations who can live healthier and more secure. It wouldn't stop the sun from expanding and eating the solar system, but it would help just a few people live happier lives in the meantime. Perhaps we would agree on this anyhow, but I find myself to be an individualist, and I recognize the power that people can exert to make a change...and it may start with just being nice to your mother or cashier at the grocery store. Goodness can be a default if the situation allows it. We can't hinder the unimaginable forces that exist above and beyond, but we probably can be a lot less selfish and terrible to each other. Thanks for your time.
Optimistic nihilism is existential, meaning, nihilism can’t be positive bc the only way to make it positive is by making your own purpose making it existential.
Even though everything doesn't matter in the end, I always try to help others and focus on making things better rather than living just for myself. In terms of his party analogy, if the party was about to end in an hour and everyone would die at the end of that hour I would do what I can to make myself happy and everyone else since we're all in this together. If someone were to spill their drink on their shirt, I'd give them my sweater and another drink. It might not mean anything in the end but at the very moment, it means everything to that person and I helped ease their suffering in the present and future. I'd also die knowing I gave more than took away and perhaps made the party/world better for those who are still waiting for the hour to be up. I know I'd have a better time if people gave a helping hand here and there.
I wouldn't say be happy all the time but be content. Even if nothing matter inconvenience & suffering happens to us all. But just keep things in prospective and have inner peace since its all temporary
optimistic nihilism imo is just a new term for the journey from nihilism to existentialism. I think even Nietzsche says something about nihilism as a transit.
It's weird. I've been an optimistic nihilist for a while and was curious to see how many others had similar ideas to me and this is what I found. decent video. Not that it matters though.
I used to think this way almost exactly, except I've never really understood why nihilists think death negates the meaning of everything that happens before it. Despite that, this is a really good video for people struggling with existential questions.
I think part of the reason is because to accomplish great things is difficult, takes discipline and sacrafice and can actually make you unhappy in the short term. You may well be delaying your gratification. And so when you seriously contemplate death and the absolute fact that it can come at any moment, why would you not simply try to enjoy every single precious moment rather than strive? If you had absolute knowledge that you were going to die in 24 hours time, would you really be all that worried about how much money you had, whether your car was clean or whether you had food in your fridge? And since you, nor anybody you know, will have any consciousness to be able to remember the things that happened in life after everyone is dead, why would any of it have meaning?
Rae Krakauer when you are dead you don't have consciousness, feelings, memories... you basically don't exist, so that's why what you've done doesn't matter, it can matter to people who are alive, but what other people feel doesn't affect you if you're dead. But that just happens when you die, if you're alive life is significant
It’s like working hard to build a sand castle and then in crumbles. Death destroys life. (FYI I’m not a nihilist, I’m a Christian and I believe in the resurrection).
This was well said. It's hard to explain this to people who feel like they need their 'meaning'. Just because nothing matters, doesn't mean it can't matter to you; be enjoyable to you. Nihilism does not automatically mean pessimism and giving up. It only answers one question: Is there meaning? No. And meaning is incoherent.
True! Nothing matters means that: BEING HAPPY _is_ what matters! As Lucretius points out (courtesy of Stephen Greenblatt in his book "The Swerve"): 1. Everything is made of invisible particles. 2. The elementary particles of matter - "the seeds of the things" - are eternal. 3. The elementary particles are infinite in number but limited in shape and size. 4. All particles are in motion in an infinite void. 5. The universe has no creator or designer. 6. Everything comes into being as a result of a swerve. 7. The swerve is the source of free will. 8. Nature ceaselessly experiments. 9. The universe was not created for or about humans. 10. Humans are not unique. 11. Human society began not in a Golden Age of tranquility and plenty but in a primitive battle for survival. 12. The soul dies. 13. There is no afterlife. 14. Death is nothing to us. 15. All organized religions are superstitious delusions. 16. Religions are invariably cruel. 17. There are no angels, devils or ghosts. 18. The highest goal of human life is the enhancement of pleasure and the reduction of pain. 19. The greatest obstacle to pleasure is not pain; it's delusion. 20. Understanding the nature of things generates deep wonder. And the most important points are: 18-20, with a thought to 12-17. Get it? Love you, too!
Being happy subjectively matters... Future generations will not care about your happiness, and when the universe goes dark, none of it will matter. Since we are conscious, and wired up to nervous systems, then it's reasonable to assume we would want to pursue happiness. It's not objectively meaningful in any way, so nihilism still holds true.
Also... Just because particle physics has an element of randomness, does not mean freewill exists. We are all following programs of complex systems beyond our control, with minuscule quantum events slightly bugging up the program. I recommend Sam Harris, if you want to know more.
This is what I have been feeling and wanting to express for so long.You just gave me words.Each and every thing you mentioned has passed my mind always. I feel like I am you!!
Im 19, nihilism made me depressed for a year, starting when i was 18. For some people nihilism helps, it takes the pressure away, but for me it does the complete oposite.
@Eric O'Connor that's when Optimistic Nihilism sets in. At the fundamental level life is worthless so that look for your own reason and stop worrying about the problems of your life after all it is meaningess. It sets you free to live a free life .
Swornim Shrestha I totally agree with what your saying, there is so many unable to have this knowledge because it’s hard for the human mind to understand that it has no meaning or value But once you get there You get full clarity
my poimt of wiev to nihilism is a bit diffrent. I think that any kind of psychologic optimism is kinda fairy tale ish. but still this video is 1000x more helpful than morrons telling people how special and beatiful they are. this guy at least honest. and most of the things he said is not bullshit.
True, I’d say he’s be an absurdist- he recognizes that life is meaningless and recognizes the absurd in life but he still finds the subjective meaning of life (being happy)
Haha that sounds like my mom wrote it. I was always like this as a kid. I said it how it was without sugar coating anything. If I thought something sucked or if I found something unpopular to be interesting I would say so.
🔥. So true. Seems like a lot of people avoid thinking about the truths that lead to the conclusion that the purpose of life is to enjoy it (and maybe help others enjoy it too 🙂). Thanks for sharing!
Things you do matter to those it affects, it matters to you as long as you're alive, it just won't matter to you after you're dead since there is no you to care about it.
one of the best videos on this topic, I recently uploaded a video on my youtube channel on why do anything if we all die? explaining optimistic nihilim in Hindi. but coincidentally landed on this video, which is on similar lines. That's the beauty. Truth is the same in all languages, good video brother. Cheers 🍻
You are talking about positive nihilism... But what if someone is living his whole life in depression or something, or maybe he kills himself? That it also won't matter 100 years from now. But yea we should enjoy this little time, but even if we don't it won't matter :)
@@thehigherman9918 It's doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Just saying "it doesn't matter" is a po philosophy way of understanding. I have chronic depression. I went and got help for it. Why? Because I want to enjoy the time I have this random floating rock. I might die tomorrow. I might die in 100 years. But right now I'm here. And if I die at either date it won't matter because none of this matters. But that's ok because I want to still have fun while it's all here. That's the difference between being nihilism and optimistic nihilism
I lived with depression and was suicidal for 10 years. Even attempted suicide multiple times. Then I discovered this philosophy and it cured my depression and stopped my suicidal thoughts. My life has been so much better since then. It saved my life
I believe this to be true, but being happy with knowing that there's no meaning is easier said than done. Looks good on paper, but practicing this philosophy in reality is very difficult for me.
Hii, Im 22, Working, and... I was really stressed up about my life & where its heading, I have a girl I love so much & worried how will I manage to take care of her in future If I loose my job and all that stuff. It has got me to a point I have started hating my life. I have so many questions & ... worries in my mind. I just feel so lost in this floating piece of land in the middle of nowhere. I dont know what will happen, will it be good will it be bad. Im scared to hell. I dont know anything & I dont have any answers. But watching this video made me feel good. Thank u I appreciate it.
Nihilism is the best. People think that it's depressing, and it could be if you don't realize how free you are, but once you realize how wonderfull the feeling of meaninglessness is it takes away all of the pressure. It has helped me a lot in the last few years to deal with anxiety and depression, even though sometimes it gets bad especially if other people don't understand your point of view, but it doesn't matter anyway because you and everyone you know and love will die. We are free. It's like the feeling you get in the last day of school or work before vacation. One thing that all phillosophers and spiritual teachers agree on is: carpe diem, seize the day, appreciate the here and now and fuck the rest.
3:25 Even after you're dead this video would still changing everything for people who were really sad before watching this. (Yeap, wouldn't change anything for "you", I'm sorry) Thank you anyway.
I think I've been a nihilist for the majority of my life. Probably because I probably became a nihilist or found out that I was already a nihilist around early teens. Not through existential crisis, but some other way. Honestly, the world is chaotic and beautiful. Mate, I don't care about your ideological struggles, religious whatnot, and fucking feelings, I am literally eating my breakfast. What is life to me, the thing I always say about life is this: *LIFE* it exists! Life is life, *THINGS* exist. *_yes_* Schquack meglybvlin, kyethma shvrorka. yes what does it mean? It means nothing. Just funny nonsense. Some people take life too seriously, some people don't take it serious enough. I prefer the middle way. Maybe this is because I found taoism. but then again, I already had taoist beliefs before I even knew about taoism. Taoism didn't teach me very much, Taoism gave me definitions for things I already believed in. My concept of Yin and Yang existed as a definition, but no word for those definitions to define. Am I a nihilist? Probably. Am I a taoist? maybe, maybe not? Am I anything, maybe, probably, schmoto moto, moto schmoto. what is a chair, a low table, and a stool? I think it'd be cool to have a whole thing about philosophical sensical non-sense. Not seriously philosophy and questions.
Very nice video! I myself made a video about this same subject, but you express my thoughts far better. Thank you for doing it this way. It's a great way to stay positive and keep moving forward. Cheers!
He has a point, but his idea is limiting. If nothing matters then we can enjoy ourselves even if it contradicts all that is ethically right made up by the the world that doesn't matter.
I feel nihilism and insanity go hand and hand it’s so beautiful to see the chaos and emptiness and still crack a smile at the joke of the truth do a little dance laugh. My great grandmother a very close minded religious person said a lot to my grandfather an atheist “if there was no god what’s stopping you from raping and murdering and would you do it?” And I think my answer to that question is no probably not no matter how mentally I’ll I am which came because of the closed minded upbringing I had I don’t think at this stage in my life I would do that that’s not my goal I wanna be happy and have fun and I have zero desire for drugs or alcohol never tasted a drop out of fear of addiction so the answer to what’s stopping me absolutely nothing I don’t want to kill who says I need a all powerful purpose to just exist instead of cause taboo chaos
I find so much comfort in nothingness! In the end everything ever cried over, laughed at, hated, feard.. means nothing.. nothing more then for the moment! So own the moment, and enjoy! If you fail, a huge parachute called nothingness will make sure that failure will go away in time. Nothingnes will kill every laugh, but it will also kill every tear! I will laugh and smile for as long I controll the chaos!
What complicates things too a higher degree is considering that that happiness is all dependent on a human perception, a man made thing, therefore also harbours no real significance other than it is the only thing that feels good for us, and things get even more complicated because good is also a biological function, chemicals going off in our heads, so all that we perceive and want to perceive is completely dependent on our vessel we call our body, we are essentially nothing
You delivered a great talk.... But you can't induce or force happiness to you brain. Happiness is necessity...biological reasons... but that doesn't means you need to find happiness or make an illusion. Just take pain if comes take happiness if comes... don't induce it. In longer run its shine will be lost. And nothing matters.... perfect... do whatever you want to... and whatever you can.
Optimistic nihilism is the phenomenon where a person uses ''the system'' on a daily basis but he prefers to hide his fears of responsibility under a very subjective entitled perspective - Nothing matters.
Nope. He never encouraged to never contribute. Actually he’s contributing simply by making this video even though he’s probably only doing it for himself. This video that he made has perceived value otherwise none of us would invest our time and attention to hear him. You don’t have to be some great celebrity or some dude who can lift 1000lbs to have value in this society. You could be the guy lifting light 5lb produce bags in the grocery store and still be providing value for others even if you find it fun. Believe it or not I would find my job as a cashier quite therapeutic because I have Avoidant personality disorder. It means I hate getting close to people but it doesn’t mean I don’t like socializing. Being a cashier was perfect because I didn’t have to be any of the customers friends but I could still socialize and joke around.
What an excellent video! Thank you, OP! My 2 controversial cents on the topic: Nihilism is great when you're struggling in life. When you can't change your situation, you have to reconcile it somehow. You start to think that nothing matters, so your situation is okay. You start to think that nothing matters, so it's normal that you're not happy. It's an escape route, it makes sense. Optimistic nihilism is an excellent first step when things are better. It's just next to nihilism to just ask: when nothing matters, why shouldn't I choose to be happy? This is far easier step than the step: everything I do matters because it matters to me, it matters to those around me. Which one do you think is scarier - that nothing you do matters... or that everything you do matters?
@@cliffkonkle3467 I think things matter subjectively, not objectively. We might not matter in the grand scheme of things, but a friend or family member might matter a great deal to me, in a way that a passerby wouldn't (well, maybe a little, but only slightly - we'd never see each other again). Someone without a hobby might wonder why others find so much enjoyment out of theirs, knowing that these hobbies don't matter in the grand scheme of things; but like a child to a parent, they matter subjectively, and it might mean a lot to *them*.
1 The words of the Teacher,[a](A) son of David, king in Jerusalem:(B) 2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”(C) 3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?(D) 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.(E) 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.(F) 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.(G) 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing,(H) nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;(I) there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 No one remembers the former generations,(J) and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.(K) ECCLESIASTIES 1:1-11
I understand this and quite agree to this philosophy. But it still bugs me somewhere that, sure, all of us go through something. We have bad times. good times. But each person has a different level of bad to deal with. What about people exposed to terrorism, victims of them, sex slaves, poor and homeless, people who come into this world and die seconds later, and all the other horrifying things that people deal with. People who are slaves in their own homes. The mentally ill beyond repair. How would you justify this "happiness" to them? Just wondering....because our darkness would be nothing like theirs.... I do not believe in the existence of God as a being. God is the infinite. Like finite being something within reach. And the infinite beyond knowledge. And it doesn't even matter. But from what i see in people around me, god believers, i think that they believe in god so they have somethinGto hang on to in a state of absolute hopelessness. A few poor and homeless I've spoken to say that their belief in god is the only thing that keeps them going. How would you justify Optimistic Nihilism to them? Wonderful video by the way. :)
Yeah I have the same thought as you. Like, explain this to the families in a war-torn country like Syria, and it wouldn't make sense to them. And I agree with you. I am a theist in the infinite sense
yes yes YEEEAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's what i'm fucking talkin' about. We're getting closer to true freedom and sharing the beauty of understanding and fuckng *DOOOIIINNNGGGG* things.
Nihilism is great... Long story short, nothing really matters... and you are only going to live this one time. You don't really have to be happy or achieve anything. You don't have to live for too long, you don't have to please other, you don't even have to please yourself. There is no purpose of anybody anything or anyone. You can think of this as sand or some rocks in a backyard, they are there for no reason they're useless, it won't really matter if they're there or not. Another important point is that there are basically no consequences so do whatever you want, feelings are basically chemical reactions. You only live once guys, and being dead is just like before being born.
On the bigger picture nothing matters, that’s true. But there are things that matter in the world that we live in. Everything you do or don’t do leaves a trace in this world, doesn’t it? It matters in a sense that whatever you do changes things .. it may make it either easier or harder for people/beings to live on this planet. May be that’s exactly what optimistic nihilism is about .. I might just have a hard time grasping the concept of what it actually is about.
How can you be sure that we will not do the same after and we havnt done it before? How can yo be "sure" that nothing really matters?? I really have many similar questions as you, but, since or conscious mind (5-10%?) is soooo limited I feel theres any kind of question that could be answer in any way. Thanks for your approach and video!
Well all yee who want to know i have written a book and placed my thoughts therein! Thank you all for being so lovely and supportive. I love you all www.amazon.ca/dp/B0927X3BTS/ref=cm_sw_r_sm_apa_glt_GD06W99M6T9Y5WYC8FFE
Excited to get one
I think this video is absolutely stupid. Frederick Nietzsche said that if god is dead, we then need to create a god. Meaning that if no actual god exists to give us meaning, we then would need to create it ourselves. It’s worth being said that it really seems to mean something for this person to make a video about how nothing means anything. I love how the premise of this video immediately makes everything said in it irrelevant. Furthermore, just because a “bad thing” is no longer happening doesn’t negate the psyche being a prerequisite for the human condition. The lasting effects of serious trauma on the conscious and subconscious are much more profoundly significant than to have the cure to them be some simpleton explain the expiration of their experience. In my opinion it seems like the person in this video is on drugs, and thinks they’re the first person to say some stupid s*** like this.
Nihilism is freedom and happiness, nothing matters.........I find this to be such a comforting thought a happy thought. I don’t understand why people think nihilism is depressing
KillerBites because people take everything super serious and think everything has meaning and shit.
Because a lot of humans cannot fathom the idea that they’re not important.
well I was one of these people, and my life was really tough because I was looking for meaning in everything I did and then you know that shit drove me crazy and depression. Nihilism is freedom as you said, now the only thing I care about is enjoy the present moment.
@@vincentalexander5242 yes narcissists are what's wrong with the world the ego is chaotic and it drives people to madness which is really unnecessary and irrational in it's entirety
@@oguilhermequeirozz same exact thing happened to me. Now my life has been so much better
Kurzgesagt brought me here. What a nice philosophy!
Their video was so beautiful. Anyone who hasn’t seen it should watch it. Also watch Veritasium’s video: “Our Greatest Delusion”
same
@@milespq5561 I can't find it!
@@milespq5561 I mean, he talks about our greatest delusion in this video:
ruclips.net/video/EKR-HydGohQ/видео.html
Anyway, it's not named like that
It's pretty much a parasitical perspective in a haven what 21th century is in comparison to anything that existed till now.
I didn't start feeling normal until I embraced my nihilism.
U are not wrong
Embrace the fuck out of it because the only thing we are promised in life is our own death
Brutal
same
Murder justifyed?
Since getting into and actually thinking about nihilism and watching videos, there are all these people taking about "overcoming" the nihilism crisis...for me (someone filled with anxiety and a ton of type A personality traits), nihilism offers great freedom. We worry too much about the day-to-day and what we accomplish or don't accomplish. And the reality is if we can accomplish something great, well great; if not, that's good too--we still might as well enjoy our time because either way we're going to end up dead...that's the end point, the final result regardless of what we do in between birth and death. But still we're stuck with this time on earth, so makes since to at least experience happiness. Thanks for the reminder by making this video.
I don't know how to show you my gratitude
I can agree we are truly free in a universe size playground.
If nothing really matters than you can do whatever you want
i could listen to you talk for days..
same
Me fuccin too bud
so basically Optimistic nihilism = yolo
You only live once but dont risk it too much
Nihilism=you only live once/you only die once too....choose whatever you want but in the end it doesn't matter and your option is meaningless
@@spacemonkeydoom6116 NOOOO! To live is to risk it all, otherwise you're just an inert chunk of randomly
assembled molecules drifting wherever society directs you.
Full on yolo would be 'complete nihilism' when you don't care about anything or any meanings- you just live in the moment. No goals.
@@quantumquackery yes yes exactly
How did such a young fellow become so wise? It took me many decades to realize this.
Walt F. Im pretty sure it was mushrooms.. I had this very same epiphany realization, i understood it but i didn't at the same time.. It helped me to realize that death isnt a bad thing at all and nothing to cry over, its just apart of life. It helped me to realize that pain is evident but suffering is a choice.
it's really nothing spectacular to have this knowledge, really no need for shrooms or whatever. If you take time to actually think you will eventually realise big things.. But he starts the video with a pretty big presumption; there is nothing greater than this world? That is just a belief and to be honest it is a silly belief if your goal is to 'apreciate the beauty of this life'. Surely a belief that there is something greater than us would be more beneficial for his viewpoint, for his way of life? You have the abbility to choose what to believe after all.. The fact that there is something greater out there just makes life even more beautiful and mysterious. A sense of adventure is a big part of joy, if joy really is your greatest desire.
Matija Volk I agree (with the first part of your comment), if you overthink enough you come to the same conclusion, I did when i was 15, but I gotta say there’s not that many people that believe in this, I guess the hard part is accepting that nothing really matters, some people don’t want to cope with the idea that this world has no actual meaning, but once you realize that it’s full clarity
@@lieberte i think the point is u cant know for sure , u have no real idea. it could be nothing, even if it is nothing, proceed with how you should live your life..
Internet
This is exactly how I feel...which is why I often didn’t know if I even WAS a nihilist. I enjoy my life...I teach children...I enjoy it. Do I believe I was touched my an ethereal being with a preordained purpose to do this in my lifetime? No. I chose it myself. And it’s BEAUTIFUL. I enjoy each day as an opportunity to keep doing it. It could end at any time. And I’ll just be gone. It doesn’t bother me! I don’t need some higher purpose granted to me from higher power.
I am definitely enjoying the Salt n Vinegar chips I am eating at this moment. Should I live to see the next couple of hours, I will go buy some more and enjoy the moment as a bitter sweet moment!
i was going slightly insane before watching this
hahahaha im dead
Same what....
Looks like my response is a few years late, but I too came from the aforementioned video.
I find your point about "nothing matters because the universe will eventually end" to be really compelling. I would like to provide a counter point, if possible.
You're rightfully correct in stating that any of our actions will have no effect on the inevitability of the end of times, but I disagree that our actions are without change or impact. I could start a charity that benefits lower income families by supplementing their income to help pay rent. That would have a huge impact on the lives of others, possibly even affecting generations who can live healthier and more secure. It wouldn't stop the sun from expanding and eating the solar system, but it would help just a few people live happier lives in the meantime. Perhaps we would agree on this anyhow, but I find myself to be an individualist, and I recognize the power that people can exert to make a change...and it may start with just being nice to your mother or cashier at the grocery store. Goodness can be a default if the situation allows it.
We can't hinder the unimaginable forces that exist above and beyond, but we probably can be a lot less selfish and terrible to each other. Thanks for your time.
Are there people who obsessively fear and think about death constantly that they go through depression? This gentleman seems loving. That is great.
Optimistic nihilism is existential, meaning, nihilism can’t be positive bc the only way to make it positive is by making your own purpose making it existential.
Even though everything doesn't matter in the end, I always try to help others and focus on making things better rather than living just for myself. In terms of his party analogy, if the party was about to end in an hour and everyone would die at the end of that hour I would do what I can to make myself happy and everyone else since we're all in this together. If someone were to spill their drink on their shirt, I'd give them my sweater and another drink. It might not mean anything in the end but at the very moment, it means everything to that person and I helped ease their suffering in the present and future. I'd also die knowing I gave more than took away and perhaps made the party/world better for those who are still waiting for the hour to be up. I know I'd have a better time if people gave a helping hand here and there.
I Liked your comment a lot!!
I wouldn't say be happy all the time but be content. Even if nothing matter inconvenience & suffering happens to us all. But just keep things in prospective and have inner peace since its all temporary
optimistic nihilism imo is just a new term for the journey from nihilism to existentialism. I think even Nietzsche says something about nihilism as a transit.
It's weird. I've been an optimistic nihilist for a while and was curious to see how many others had similar ideas to me and this is what I found.
decent video. Not that it matters though.
I used to think this way almost exactly, except I've never really understood why nihilists think death negates the meaning of everything that happens before it. Despite that, this is a really good video for people struggling with existential questions.
I think part of the reason is because to accomplish great things is difficult, takes discipline and sacrafice and can actually make you unhappy in the short term. You may well be delaying your gratification. And so when you seriously contemplate death and the absolute fact that it can come at any moment, why would you not simply try to enjoy every single precious moment rather than strive? If you had absolute knowledge that you were going to die in 24 hours time, would you really be all that worried about how much money you had, whether your car was clean or whether you had food in your fridge? And since you, nor anybody you know, will have any consciousness to be able to remember the things that happened in life after everyone is dead, why would any of it have meaning?
For me, the meaning of life is there while it's happening. It doesn't need to be permanent or eternal to be significant.
Rae Krakauer when you are dead you don't have consciousness, feelings, memories... you basically don't exist, so that's why what you've done doesn't matter, it can matter to people who are alive, but what other people feel doesn't affect you if you're dead.
But that just happens when you die, if you're alive life is significant
It’s like working hard to build a sand castle and then in crumbles. Death destroys life. (FYI I’m not a nihilist, I’m a Christian and I believe in the resurrection).
You're right on everything man ! Thank you for this incredible video !
i needed this. thank you
This was well said. It's hard to explain this to people who feel like they need their 'meaning'. Just because nothing matters, doesn't mean it can't matter to you; be enjoyable to you. Nihilism does not automatically mean pessimism and giving up. It only answers one question: Is there meaning? No. And meaning is incoherent.
True! Nothing matters means that: BEING HAPPY _is_ what matters!
As Lucretius points out (courtesy of Stephen Greenblatt in his book "The Swerve"):
1. Everything is made of invisible particles.
2. The elementary particles of matter - "the seeds of the things" - are eternal.
3. The elementary particles are infinite in number but limited in shape and size.
4. All particles are in motion in an infinite void.
5. The universe has no creator or designer.
6. Everything comes into being as a result of a swerve.
7. The swerve is the source of free will.
8. Nature ceaselessly experiments.
9. The universe was not created for or about humans.
10. Humans are not unique.
11. Human society began not in a Golden Age of tranquility and plenty but in a primitive battle for survival.
12. The soul dies.
13. There is no afterlife.
14. Death is nothing to us.
15. All organized religions are superstitious delusions.
16. Religions are invariably cruel.
17. There are no angels, devils or ghosts.
18. The highest goal of human life is the enhancement of pleasure and the reduction of pain.
19. The greatest obstacle to pleasure is not pain; it's delusion.
20. Understanding the nature of things generates deep wonder.
And the most important points are: 18-20, with a thought to 12-17.
Get it? Love you, too!
Being happy subjectively matters... Future generations will not care about your happiness, and when the universe goes dark, none of it will matter. Since we are conscious, and wired up to nervous systems, then it's reasonable to assume we would want to pursue happiness. It's not objectively meaningful in any way, so nihilism still holds true.
Also... Just because particle physics has an element of randomness, does not mean freewill exists. We are all following programs of complex systems beyond our control, with minuscule quantum events slightly bugging up the program. I recommend Sam Harris, if you want to know more.
Excellent presentation! Key is appreciating beauty while we're along for the ride back to dust and nothingness
Thanks for your comment. It added that little extra about our ultimate destiny!!😊
This is what I have been feeling and wanting to express for so long.You just gave me words.Each and every thing you mentioned has passed my mind always. I feel like I am you!!
Im 19, nihilism made me depressed for a year, starting when i was 18.
For some people nihilism helps, it takes the pressure away, but for me it does the complete oposite.
that's exactly why there's a difference between optimistic and existential nihilism
Same here
@Eric O'Connor atheism and Nihilism both are the yet unaccepted but the next step to wisdom
@Eric O'Connor that's when Optimistic Nihilism sets in. At the fundamental level life is worthless so that look for your own reason and stop worrying about the problems of your life after all it is meaningess. It sets you free to live a free life .
Swornim Shrestha I totally agree with what your saying, there is so many unable to have this knowledge because it’s hard for the human mind to understand that it has no meaning or value
But once you get there
You get full clarity
I come back and watch this video quite often. It gives me euphoria.
Optimistic Nihilism: Im a happy emo.
You got that off the Ted talk lol
This is literally me on lsd
But at the same time it doesn’t matter if I’m not happy. No point stressing over it.
my poimt of wiev to nihilism is a bit diffrent. I think that any kind of psychologic optimism is kinda fairy tale ish. but still this video is 1000x more helpful than morrons telling people how special and beatiful they are. this guy at least honest. and most of the things he said is not bullshit.
True, I’d say he’s be an absurdist- he recognizes that life is meaningless and recognizes the absurd in life but he still finds the subjective meaning of life (being happy)
I mean actually idk cause I can’t get they difference btw what they call optimistic nihilism and absurdism
Haha that sounds like my mom wrote it. I was always like this as a kid. I said it how it was without sugar coating anything. If I thought something sucked or if I found something unpopular to be interesting I would say so.
@@chris7285 but Chris I am. Your mother
it's the philosophy of Albert Camus completing Nietzsches one
I've never felt soo understood in my entire life.
🔥. So true. Seems like a lot of people avoid thinking about the truths that lead to the conclusion that the purpose of life is to enjoy it (and maybe help others enjoy it too 🙂). Thanks for sharing!
Things you do matter to those it affects, it matters to you as long as you're alive, it just won't matter to you after you're dead since there is no you to care about it.
Gem o
dude i wish i would have a friend like you that has a thinking level that matches mine ( no im not a genius, its just philosophy wise)
Me too bro
articulated the thoughts ive been having for a while now. love this vid
you need more views. excellent
one of the best videos on this topic, I recently uploaded a video on my youtube channel on why do anything if we all die?
explaining optimistic nihilim in Hindi.
but coincidentally landed on this video, which is on similar lines. That's the beauty. Truth is the same in all languages, good video brother.
Cheers 🍻
You are talking about positive nihilism...
But what if someone is living his whole life in depression or something, or maybe he kills himself? That it also won't matter 100 years from now. But yea we should enjoy this little time, but even if we don't it won't matter :)
exactly!
Theidolon George + depression is separate and a real medical condition, see somebody!
Native Atheist but it doesn't matter
@@thehigherman9918 It's doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Just saying "it doesn't matter" is a po philosophy way of understanding. I have chronic depression. I went and got help for it. Why? Because I want to enjoy the time I have this random floating rock. I might die tomorrow. I might die in 100 years. But right now I'm here. And if I die at either date it won't matter because none of this matters. But that's ok because I want to still have fun while it's all here. That's the difference between being nihilism and optimistic nihilism
I lived with depression and was suicidal for 10 years. Even attempted suicide multiple times. Then I discovered this philosophy and it cured my depression and stopped my suicidal thoughts. My life has been so much better since then. It saved my life
Man, I come back to this video regulary!
I believe this to be true, but being happy with knowing that there's no meaning is easier said than done. Looks good on paper, but practicing this philosophy in reality is very difficult for me.
Such an amazing way of thinking,I love it!
I want this to be played this at my funeral !
Hii, Im 22, Working, and... I was really stressed up about my life & where its heading, I have a girl I love so much & worried how will I manage to take care of her in future If I loose my job and all that stuff. It has got me to a point I have started hating my life. I have so many questions & ... worries in my mind. I just feel so lost in this floating piece of land in the middle of nowhere. I dont know what will happen, will it be good will it be bad. Im scared to hell. I dont know anything & I dont have any answers. But watching this video made me feel good. Thank u I appreciate it.
Just accept reality and do whatever you want.
how you can be happy when you have all your time struggle to earn food and your daily basics.
Life is like a song and, as with a song, repetition is a rule. Whatever's happening right now, will happen again.
You can’t assign having happiness as the meaning of something that you’re defining as meaningless. Mutually exclusive concepts.
I ran into this while practicing stoicism it makes sense. I also thought I was the only one to think in such a way good thing Im not alone.
You are not along my friend!! There are many of us looking for answers to our ultimate destiny!!
Nihilism is the best. People think that it's depressing, and it could be if you don't realize how free you are, but once you realize how wonderfull the feeling of meaninglessness is it takes away all of the pressure. It has helped me a lot in the last few years to deal with anxiety and depression, even though sometimes it gets bad especially if other people don't understand your point of view, but it doesn't matter anyway because you and everyone you know and love will die. We are free. It's like the feeling you get in the last day of school or work before vacation.
One thing that all phillosophers and spiritual teachers agree on is: carpe diem, seize the day, appreciate the here and now and fuck the rest.
this is awesome, thank you
this is amazing!
Best video on the internet
3:25 Even after you're dead this video would still changing everything for people who were really sad before watching this. (Yeap, wouldn't change anything for "you", I'm sorry)
Thank you anyway.
I think I've been a nihilist for the majority of my life. Probably because I probably became a nihilist or found out that I was already a nihilist around early teens. Not through existential crisis, but some other way.
Honestly, the world is chaotic and beautiful. Mate, I don't care about your ideological struggles, religious whatnot, and fucking feelings, I am literally eating my breakfast.
What is life
to me, the thing I always say about life is this:
*LIFE* it exists!
Life is life, *THINGS* exist.
*_yes_*
Schquack meglybvlin, kyethma shvrorka.
yes
what does it mean?
It means nothing. Just funny nonsense.
Some people take life too seriously, some people don't take it serious enough. I prefer the middle way. Maybe this is because I found taoism. but then again, I already had taoist beliefs before I even knew about taoism.
Taoism didn't teach me very much, Taoism gave me definitions for things I already believed in.
My concept of Yin and Yang existed as a definition, but no word for those definitions to define.
Am I a nihilist? Probably. Am I a taoist? maybe, maybe not?
Am I anything, maybe, probably, schmoto moto, moto schmoto. what is a chair, a low table, and a stool?
I think it'd be cool to have a whole thing about philosophical sensical non-sense. Not seriously philosophy and questions.
Very nice video! I myself made a video about this same subject, but you express my thoughts far better. Thank you for doing it this way. It's a great way to stay positive and keep moving forward. Cheers!
Is that Banjo Kazooie music at the beginning??
YES MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY. 96% sure it's from Banjo Tooie.
Optimistic nihilism = Appreciation
Dude, that was fantastic! I loved your be happy now point of view!!😎
He has a point, but his idea is limiting. If nothing matters then we can enjoy ourselves even if it contradicts all that is ethically right made up by the the world that doesn't matter.
There's energies & spiritual stuff, his beliefs go against concept of Optimistic nihilism.
Update: Ive watched the whole video now and "god" damn I'm so glad i found you. Thanks man, this is exactly my view of life.
Woah this actually kind of helped my depressive nihilism
You saved my life.
I feel nihilism and insanity go hand and hand it’s so beautiful to see the chaos and emptiness and still crack a smile at the joke of the truth do a little dance laugh. My great grandmother a very close minded religious person said a lot to my grandfather an atheist “if there was no god what’s stopping you from raping and murdering and would you do it?” And I think my answer to that question is no probably not no matter how mentally I’ll I am which came because of the closed minded upbringing I had I don’t think at this stage in my life I would do that that’s not my goal I wanna be happy and have fun and I have zero desire for drugs or alcohol never tasted a drop out of fear of addiction so the answer to what’s stopping me absolutely nothing I don’t want to kill who says I need a all powerful purpose to just exist instead of cause taboo chaos
I find so much comfort in nothingness! In the end everything ever cried over, laughed at, hated, feard.. means nothing.. nothing more then for the moment! So own the moment, and enjoy! If you fail, a huge parachute called nothingness will make sure that failure will go away in time. Nothingnes will kill every laugh, but it will also kill every tear! I will laugh and smile for as long I controll the chaos!
I think you should debate inmendham for my amusement
What complicates things too a higher degree is considering that that happiness is all dependent on a human perception, a man made thing, therefore also harbours no real significance other than it is the only thing that feels good for us, and things get even more complicated because good is also a biological function, chemicals going off in our heads, so all that we perceive and want to perceive is completely dependent on our vessel we call our body, we are essentially nothing
this is meaningless
Wow....
Damn right
As in , everything is meaningless 🤔
Now you're getting the hang of it!
Exatamente.
Nihilism is the real life.
You delivered a great talk....
But you can't induce or force happiness to you brain.
Happiness is necessity...biological reasons... but that doesn't means you need to find happiness or make an illusion.
Just take pain if comes take happiness if comes... don't induce it. In longer run its shine will be lost.
And nothing matters.... perfect... do whatever you want to... and whatever you can.
Optimistic nihilism is the phenomenon where a person uses ''the system'' on a daily basis but he prefers to hide his fears of responsibility under a very subjective entitled perspective - Nothing matters.
That's not what it is you brainwashed FUCK
Nope. He never encouraged to never contribute. Actually he’s contributing simply by making this video even though he’s probably only doing it for himself. This video that he made has perceived value otherwise none of us would invest our time and attention to hear him. You don’t have to be some great celebrity or some dude who can lift 1000lbs to have value in this society. You could be the guy lifting light 5lb produce bags in the grocery store and still be providing value for others even if you find it fun. Believe it or not I would find my job as a cashier quite therapeutic because I have Avoidant personality disorder. It means I hate getting close to people but it doesn’t mean I don’t like socializing. Being a cashier was perfect because I didn’t have to be any of the customers friends but I could still socialize and joke around.
Yeah, that's 100% what I believe in as well. Life is just life. Nothing more, nothing less, so try to make the best out of it.
wonderful job explaining these important points!
I agree with this philosophy, but I will say “just be happy” it’s quite ableist.
What an excellent video! Thank you, OP!
My 2 controversial cents on the topic:
Nihilism is great when you're struggling in life. When you can't change your situation, you have to reconcile it somehow. You start to think that nothing matters, so your situation is okay. You start to think that nothing matters, so it's normal that you're not happy. It's an escape route, it makes sense.
Optimistic nihilism is an excellent first step when things are better. It's just next to nihilism to just ask: when nothing matters, why shouldn't I choose to be happy? This is far easier step than the step: everything I do matters because it matters to me, it matters to those around me.
Which one do you think is scarier - that nothing you do matters... or that everything you do matters?
I think things matter but also you have to pull the plug out of our ass and not take everything so serious that it makes you unhappy.
@@cliffkonkle3467 I think things matter subjectively, not objectively. We might not matter in the grand scheme of things, but a friend or family member might matter a great deal to me, in a way that a passerby wouldn't (well, maybe a little, but only slightly - we'd never see each other again). Someone without a hobby might wonder why others find so much enjoyment out of theirs, knowing that these hobbies don't matter in the grand scheme of things; but like a child to a parent, they matter subjectively, and it might mean a lot to *them*.
I can't count how many times I've watched this video
1 The words of the Teacher,[a](A) son of David, king in Jerusalem:(B)
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”(C)
3 What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?(D)
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.(E)
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.(F)
6 The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
7 All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.(G)
8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,(H)
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;(I)
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
11 No one remembers the former generations,(J)
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.(K)
ECCLESIASTIES 1:1-11
Your video always put me on a great mood, thanks brother, let's enjoy everything
I watched this video sometimes when I'm kind of stuck and sad
Video plays 30 seconds. Me: hitting the subscribe button violently
bless this video
I understand this and quite agree to this philosophy. But it still bugs me somewhere that, sure, all of us go through something. We have bad times. good times. But each person has a different level of bad to deal with. What about people exposed to terrorism, victims of them, sex slaves, poor and homeless, people who come into this world and die seconds later, and all the other horrifying things that people deal with. People who are slaves in their own homes. The mentally ill beyond repair. How would you justify this "happiness" to them? Just wondering....because our darkness would be nothing like theirs....
I do not believe in the existence of God as a being. God is the infinite. Like finite being something within reach. And the infinite beyond knowledge. And it doesn't even matter. But from what i see in people around me, god believers, i think that they believe in god so they have somethinGto hang on to in a state of absolute hopelessness. A few poor and homeless I've spoken to say that their belief in god is the only thing that keeps them going. How would you justify Optimistic Nihilism to them?
Wonderful video by the way. :)
Yeah I have the same thought as you. Like, explain this to the families in a war-torn country like Syria, and it wouldn't make sense to them. And I agree with you. I am a theist in the infinite sense
yes yes YEEEAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's what i'm fucking talkin' about. We're getting closer to true freedom and sharing the beauty of understanding and fuckng *DOOOIIINNNGGGG* things.
Congrats! You dig it.
I smiled throughout the whole video. Loved it 🤗 keep @ 'er!
love the twenty one pilots bit :) and the whole video gj dude
optimistic Nihilism sets your mind free.
Sets it free to do what? Nothing? Why even care about freedom it doesn’t even matter.
Nihilism is great... Long story short, nothing really matters... and you are only going to live this one time. You don't really have to be happy or achieve anything.
You don't have to live for too long, you don't have to please other, you don't even have to please yourself. There is no purpose of anybody anything or anyone. You can think of this as sand or some rocks in a backyard, they are there for no reason they're useless, it won't really matter if they're there or not. Another important point is that there are basically no consequences so do whatever you want, feelings are basically chemical reactions.
You only live once guys, and being dead is just like before being born.
Well if nothing matters then studing and trying to get closer to the void is meaningless.
On the bigger picture nothing matters, that’s true. But there are things that matter in the world that we live in. Everything you do or don’t do leaves a trace in this world, doesn’t it? It matters in a sense that whatever you do changes things .. it may make it either easier or harder for people/beings to live on this planet. May be that’s exactly what optimistic nihilism is about .. I might just have a hard time grasping the concept of what it actually is about.
This makes me happy
Hollywood needs you! :)
How can you be sure that we will not do the same after and we havnt done it before?
How can yo be "sure" that nothing really matters?? I really have many similar questions as you, but, since or conscious mind (5-10%?) is soooo limited I feel theres any kind of question that could be answer in any way.
Thanks for your approach and video!
just.. thank the beautiful nothingness for giving me this opportunity to watch this...in this very very verry moment
I love how you explained that, Thank you, I love you.
im happy that i found myself
i prefer this to the kurgesagt
did the lighting change weirdly for anyone else
I genuinely love you.