How Nihilism Can Be Optimistic

Summary

The article presents a perspective on nihilism that embraces the absence of inherent meaning in life, suggesting that this viewpoint can lead to an optimistic and self-determined approach to living.

Abstract

The article "How Nihilism Can Be Optimistic" explores the philosophical stance of nihilism, challenging the reader to consider life without predetermined purpose or afterlife. It posits that the vastness of the universe and the inevitability of entropy render human existence inconsequential in the grand scheme. However, rather than being a source of despair, this realization is framed as liberating, encouraging individuals to create their own meaning and purpose during their brief existence. The author argues that the finiteness of life should inspire us to live fully and happily, drawing inspiration from Nietzsche's thoughts on happiness and the importance of music in life.

Opinions

The author does not believe in an afterlife or a predestined purpose, viewing these concepts as unfounded.
The idea of existing forever is considered more frightening than the thought of ceasing to exist.
The author respects the concept of God as a vast idea beyond human understanding but does not have faith in it, maintaining a belief in eventual non-existence without assigning positive or negative value to it.
The article suggests that the universe's age is irrelevant to individual experience, and that personal perception defines the significance of time.
It emphasizes that while we may not have an inherent purpose, we have the agency to construct our own purpose and happiness.
The author cites Nietzsche to support the notion that every day should be filled with joy, laughter, and music, advocating for the creation of a personal paradise in the present life.
The article encourages embracing the day-to-day, suggesting that without music, life would lack fulfillment, and that happiness can be found in simple pleasures.

Life’s for the living so live it or you’re better off dead

We all have those days where life can seem beyond mere comprehension. You can make sense of everything around you but anything beyond you? We don’t know for sure. We all have our theories but we all have our doubts.

I, for one, don’t believe that there’s some heaven or hell we go to. I believe that life is done when it’s done. You also don't have a special purpose of being here. But don’t get scared with my nihilistic beliefs yet. I don’t find this scary at all. I believe that you are here because something, somewhere had to end. Everything ends, so everything else can begin.

Leaving every supernatural thought aside and assuming that the universe was in a hot, dense state after which it began expanding quickly with a “big bang” and will end with entropy resulting in its heat death, what happened all of the time before you? Where were you? We can’t even remember the time we were at our infancy. Everything that has ever happened before you has happened without you. It’s also the exact same thing after you die. You didn’t exist, so you wouldn’t care.

It’s been 14 billion years but it might as well be 1 second. It doesn’t really matter. When you can’t experience time and process any information, nothing really matters. In fact, “nothing” is the only thing that would matter.

The thought of “being nothing” isn’t all that scary. On the contrary, I think existing forever sounds boring and very scary. What are you even going to do with all that time? When you become nothing, you’re not you anymore so why do “you” care?

That being said, I also believe that some things are not obliged to make sense to us. There are some vast concepts that go beyond our imagination. “God” can be one of them. I’m not disrespecting that belief because I’m not sure either. The difference is that I have a belief in it and not faith. I just believe at some point, we cease to exist. I’m not faithful towards it because it’s not a good thing but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing either. It simply would not be a thing I would care about because “I” stop when I stop breathing.

You can count to 1 or trillion, it’s just the same. Everything that will ever happen will stop happening in the blink of an eye which would be the same as hundreds of billions of years. The age of you is the age of the universe. The moment you stop seeing it, it ends regardless of it still existing for everyone else.

All of that doesn’t mean you can’t have a purpose. It just means that you don’t have one that’s ready-made for you. You can create your own purpose. “You will stop living” doesn’t mean you should stop living.

It shouldn’t be bad to know that the stars don’t shine for you. Instead, it should be wondering how they keep shining for nothing. They do have a cause but they don’t have a reason to do it.

So while we’re here, why don’t we create a paradise for ourselves instead of worrying about the afterlife. With the thought that you wouldn’t live someday, you forget to live every day.

And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.

— Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

So do what makes you happy. Maybe listening to this song could (Note: this is not an affiliate link and the artist hasn’t put the original version on YouTube. This is a live version. If you want to support the artist and listen to the original version, here is the Spotify link). Why did I share this song? Ask Nietzsche!

How little it takes to make us happy! The sound of a bagpipe. Without music, life would be a mistake. The German even imagines God as singing songs.

— Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols

Thanks for your time.