# The Philosophy Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Open Forum\ **Created:** [January 8, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215 "2021-01-08T16:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/1 "2021-01-08T16:57:59Z")
OK, so here goes. I’ve been hearing and reading about Nihilism, in America and other places since like the 1990s. Some might say that it has bubbled up through the cracks left by the end of the Cold War. Anyway, I’d like to learn more about it, and of course, I invite your thoughts. I put these up the other day as three articles on the topic came up in one day and I found that rather interesting: > **[Return of the Strong Gods: Understanding the New Right](https://quillette.com/2021/01/03/return-of-the-strong-gods-understanding-the-new-right/)** > > Sydney. London. Toronto. This one, I noticed juts now is part 2…sorry: > **[German Nihilism, American-Style](https://cbradleythompson.substack.com/p/german-nihilism-american-style?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxOTMxMTM1OCwicG9zdF9pZCI6MzA0ODk0NzksIl8iOiJHRTZrYSIsImlhdCI6MTYwOTg3MjgwMCwiZXhwIjoxNjA5ODc2NDAwLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMTQzMDAzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.6qSetre1Opj-FFmZT_NP81beCihJHCSjKqCcRrLf7MY)** > > Part 2 of 3 > **[Nihilism Is Destroying Our Democracy](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/system-collapses-without-virtue/617548/)** > > Enthusiastic enablers of Trump have unmoored themselves from the values that make possible a government by and for the people. I haven’t had a chance to really read through them as I got thoroughly caught up in this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7cGrg2Gh4gg/maxresdefault.jpg "The Philosophy of Fight Club – Wisecrack Edition") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cGrg2Gh4gg) and then this, which is _absolutely_ _harharhar_ fascinating: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT-3cDwnzGM) ---
**Author:** ![RBE](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@RBE](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RBE)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/2 "2021-01-08T17:13:38Z")
A thread about nihilism is pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/3 "2021-01-08T17:14:55Z")
> [@RBE](#): > > A thread about nihilism is pointless. Clearly that isn’t an absolute. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew/32/179806_2.png) [@Andrew](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/4 "2021-01-08T17:16:17Z")
I don’t believe this thread exists. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/5 "2021-01-08T17:18:48Z")
> [@Andrew](#): > > I don’t believe this thread exists. Then your posting in it is simply _unbelievable_! ---
**Author:** ![Andrew](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew/32/179806_2.png) [@Andrew](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/6 "2021-01-08T17:20:09Z")
> [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > Then your posting in it is simply _unbelievable_ ! I don’t believe that, either. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/7 "2021-01-08T17:23:30Z")
I don’t believe your self worth is that low but I can’t disprove a negative. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew0409](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew0409/32/69821_2.png) [@Andrew0409](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew0409)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/8 "2021-01-08T17:34:05Z")
No lives matter. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/9 "2021-01-08T17:46:37Z")
OK, good, we have a little action on the fish finder. So, in this video: > [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > ![](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/0/0/005b1dfa2bce3f107695478fbbfaf2a3241038ae.jpeg "Nihilism - Nietzsche & Postmodernism") > > [Nih](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT-3cDwnzGM) if you would…go to 25:15. Here they are talking about the pedigree of Nihilism and Skepticism. Listen to what Katherine says: She thinks that in every generation or so the > question about whether there are absolute moral grounds or grounds for belief in God, or grounds for belief in the Laws of Nature, or those metaphysical things that people turn to to justify the truths they subscribe to. > What if we take those things away? What are we left with? Then, we have to work it out for ourselves. We no longer have authorities telling us what we ought to do and what we ought to think, we have to think it out from the basics … ourselves. I think that the last bit is where America is today. The falling away from God has left a void. You have to figure it out for yourself, but do people have the intellectual and literary wherewithal to successful attempt this? :ponder: ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/10 "2021-01-08T17:47:55Z")
> [@Andrew0409](#): > > No lives matter. Don’t you think that joke should speak for itself? ---
**Author:** ![TT](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tt/32/271883_2.png) [@TT](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/TT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/11 "2021-01-08T21:12:47Z")
> [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > do people have the intellectual and literary wherewithal to successful attempt this? in general i would say ‘no’, but on occasion ‘yes’; it helps that in fact we cannot be separated from things like culture and biology (let alone “authorities”), so the idea of individuals thinking it out for themselves is a thought experiment… ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/12 "2021-01-08T21:18:05Z")
> [@TT](#): > > so the idea of individuals thinking it out for themselves is a thought experiment… I agree. At first glance, authorities are simply replaced by other authorities. ---
**Author:** ![TT](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tt/32/271883_2.png) [@TT](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/TT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/13 "2021-01-08T21:23:39Z")
> [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > At first glance ? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_PBH](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mr_pbh/32/230938_2.png) [@Mr\_PBH](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Mr_PBH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/14 "2021-01-08T21:41:01Z")
I can’t claim to have mastered Nihilist Theory since this morning. I am open to other interpretations. Can a man have no masters? ---
**Author:** ![TT](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tt/32/271883_2.png) [@TT](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/TT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/15 "2021-01-08T22:01:21Z")
> [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > I can’t claim to have mastered Nihilist Theory since this morning. Good, I haven’t read any Nietzsche in the last ~15 years and it is safe to say I probably didn’t really get it. I’ve just skimmed the Wikipedia introduction and contents for nihilism as a refresher. In this conversation, there are no masters and we’ll have to figure it out from basics 😉 I am also open to other interpretations. From the wiki contents I see Buddhism and Postmodernism, both of which I have read more about but only Buddhism appeals to me. You don’t strike me as a Foucault/Derrida/Deleuze/Baudrillard kinda guy, so that’s easy. > [@Mr\_PBH](#): > > Can a man have no masters? My quick interpretation of different ways this question could be answered would be Nihilism: You have no masters, because the truth is nothing really matters Buddhism: Your real master is yourself, the truth is that existence is suffering because of desire so don’t want things Pomo: There are no real masters, only oppressors and power structures. There is no truth. It doesn’t matter that these things can’t both be true, because there is no truth and stop oppressing me My opinion? Depends on how far we want to stretch the use of the word ‘master’. ---
**Author:** ![QuaSaShao](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/quasashao/32/220200_2.png) [@QuaSaShao](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/QuaSaShao)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/16 "2021-01-08T22:02:51Z")
One theory as to why any common existential ground is disappearing beneath our feet: > When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from Earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. ---
**Author:** ![TT](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tt/32/271883_2.png) [@TT](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/TT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/17 "2021-01-08T22:04:08Z")
Could you interpret that quote for me? I don’t see how it fits your comment ☹ ---
**Author:** ![QuaSaShao](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/quasashao/32/220200_2.png) [@QuaSaShao](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/QuaSaShao)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/18 "2021-01-08T22:06:23Z")
If humanity believes in nothing because it loses all faith in anything only chaos, strife and war are left to fill the vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![TT](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tt/32/271883_2.png) [@TT](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/TT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/19 "2021-01-08T22:10:28Z")
Thank you. That sounds like Nietzsche then, correct? Are you saying → One theory as to why any common existsential ground is disappearing beneath our feet, resulting in chaos, strife and war, is that humanity now believes in nothing? If so, are there others currently bringing this Nietzsche/nihilist theory up in discussing recent US or world affairs? edit: that reminds me… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Wkvd7pbfM78/maxresdefault.jpg "The Four Horsemen") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkvd7pbfM78) ---
**Author:** ![QuaSaShao](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/quasashao/32/220200_2.png) [@QuaSaShao](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/QuaSaShao)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215/20 "2021-01-08T22:17:26Z")
It’s more John from Patmos and I don’t think many people give it much credence these days. It’s more of a fringe theory. [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-philosophy-discussion-thread/201215.md?page=2)