Nihilism is a philosophical position that, at its core, argues that life lacks inherent meaning, purpose, or objective value. It’s less a single doctrine and more a family of perspectives that challenge commonly held assumptions about truth, morality, and existence.
What Nihilism Claims
At its simplest, nihilism tends to assert one or more of the following:
- No inherent meaning: Life doesn’t come with built-in purpose.
- No objective morality: Right and wrong aren’t universal truths, just human constructs.
- No ultimate truth: Knowledge may be uncertain or even illusory.
Main Types of Nihilism
- Existential Nihilism
Life has no intrinsic meaning or value. Any meaning must be created by the individual. - Moral Nihilism
There are no objective moral facts, good and evil don’t exist independently of human opinion. - Epistemological Nihilism
Knowledge itself may be impossible or unreliable. - Cosmic Nihilism
From the perspective of the universe, human life is insignificant and without purpose.
Not despair, but creation:
- Individuals must forge their own values
- Life becomes an act of authorship, not discovery
Is Nihilism Depressing?
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.
Nihilism strips away given meaning, which can feel unsettling. But it also removes constraints, opening space for:
- Radical freedom
- Self-authored purpose
- Psychological flexibility
Some people move from nihilism into other philosophies like:
- Existentialism: (create your own meaning)
- Absurdism: (accept meaninglessness and live anyway)
A More Grounded Way to Look at It
Nihilism isn’t necessarily “nothing matters.”
A more accurate framing is:
“There is no pre-given meaning, so meaning becomes a human construction.”
That shift is subtle but powerful.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 