As a Gothic growing up there was a strong pull towards fatalism and nihilism behind the culture. Basically Nihilism is the philosophy that the life results in "nothing." It has been used by people in the past to do bad things to eachother, because, "why not." However, there is also a great possiblity of good from nihilism as well.

Imagine Albert Einstein. He was a cookie scientist that wanted to provide an endless energy supply to the World, to which he did. However, he also was part in adding "megadeath" the dictionary.

All of the good from what he did, there was also tragedy. In a way what he did cancelled out movement forward and resulted in change. It was something and many will envy his genius. Now he is dead. For all the thousands of years people are still the same but the appearance is different. In effect you could call it "nothing."

There is no reason for living, but why not? In away, you could say everyone's life is equally significant. Nihilism takes away from the idea of an overlord and measuring you worth by what you own. If everything, anyone does equates to nothing, then no one is better.

The problem I see is it has been misused to promote violence.

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/n/nihilism.htm

There is also an undertone that threatens religons. So would it matter if there was a "plan" or your just alive. You can fill your life with whatever you want, including joy and happiness. "Ride the Wave," in other words. Even I, as a nihilist can have religon and build agendas in the political areana. Does it mean the world will change? Maybe. In the end everyone dies and it won't stop wars, change romance, or really mean anything even if I suceed. But I feel inspired to do so, so I do.

THE AMERICAN NIHILISM ASSOCIATION

What's a 'gothic'?

And who the hell is Alert Einstein? Did he invent the notion of being alert?

I should mention that the principles of cause and effect are in place. You can make fun of me and I can hate you. If you attack me there's nothing stopping me from protecting myself. Just like no one likes to be murdered, so they take people who decide to do that and electrocute them.

You are being attacked?

Ah I see you edited your post. Pity, it was far more amusing the way it was. Anyway, so you haven't answered, what is a gothic then?

Well, for obsure answers on Goth, there are already three or four theads. This is the philosophy board. Gothics at that time were more nihilistic than anything else. What's the point of color coordinating and being trendy? If all my clothes are black I can get dressed in the dark.

No deary, it was the way in which you used the word gothic. I think when referring to yourself you would say- I'm a goth/ as opposed to- I'm a gothic. As for what you do in the dark.. well I'd rather not speculate.

You dream of what I do in the dark.

Nihilism is just one side of any given philosophy, the metaphysical side. Nihilistic metaphysics says that the metaphysical doesn't exist. Now, existentialism is often what people think of when they think of nihilism. It is Empyrical, Nihilistic and besides being occasionally materialistic, that's about all you can really define about an existential view of reality.

oh really? what about the Sartre Forlorness, Despair, etc.? the Ultimate Responisibility of Man?

although nihilism is indeed an interesting notion, i am unsure as to how credible it is......i know almost nothing about its philosophical canundrum, and come to think of it i have never even seen a nihlistic course offered in my philosophy department......existentialism i agree is much more justified and interesting, yet nihilism has its perks......but if what guy says is true, that when concerning the metaphysical, nihilism says it doesn't exist, i find its philosophy inaccurate.....

It's too hard for hard-working people who are motivated to be better than anyone else to except the selfishness of their acts.

No I don't. Though you may believe that if it makes your day better.

You might. You don't have control over your dreams. Tonight I water a bare spot in the yard. I have to do that every night.

Read some Nietzsche to get a just of "nihlism of nihlism" which sounds daft but i believe is an intersting path. And also works on negation, self-deception, and nihl~ by jean paul Sarte

There is no reason to get bent out of shape, if everything means nothing.

i believe in my ability to fuck things up... does that disqualify me?

I believe nothing anyone says is worth more than them not saying it.

Only if you believe that it really matters. Sure try to fix it, but when you die, I'm sure it didn't matter much.



The whole egotism works for me. Sure you probably don't care.

but isn't that more existentialistic? saying do what you want, but it matters not in the end?