Thoughts on Nihilism, optimism, cynicism


Nihilism, the belief that there is nothing
Existential nihilism, that life has nothing at the end of it.
Political Nihilism is that there is no order, how can you place ethics and order if there is no such thing. Merely a construct of society.
Religious nihilism: Belief that there is no religious law or order.
Belief that there is no purpose, a blip in time and space. Infinite time and us being a blot in the time.

Optimism, the hope that there is good
They believe in good and evil, but choose to believe that good things will happen.
They understand that there is a separation between good and evil. Whereas Nihilist beg to differ because, how do we really argue logically about good and evil? A brainteaser: If I spoke toa nihilist and tried to convince him or her that there were truly good and evil on an objective standpoint. For example: The killing of another human being. What then would tell me that killing someone else is an issue, if life is merely surmounting to nothing. What significance does a human's life have over an animal's?

Pessimists believe that there is evil and good, just that humans will never be good. Maybe something else can be good but not humans. THerefore there is still belief that there is good and bad, just a choice of which to follow.

Optimism believe the glass if half full, pessimist: the glass half empty. A nihilist questions why the glass even needs to exist in the first place. The nihilist may not see the importance of water. So whether or not we believe that life has nothing to surmount to, or whether humans will not achieve good in their lives, we still have an appreciation for life. Life in itself is worth living.

Cynicism: the ideology that drives people to think that humans are selfish. Meaning that they believe that humans are only self interested intrisically. There is still good and bad, maybe they don't believe that humans will ever be good then.... (May be paired to pessimism)

Apathetic people: Believe that there is purpose in life but just don't care.

Paradox of nihilism: The belief that there is nothing is a belief in something.


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