xdylanxfrommyspace t1_ivqy6pi wrote on November 9, 2022 at 11:25 PM

Determinism and nihilism

A few years ago in the midst of an existential crisis I had a little epiphany and did some googlin’. I soon realized that in my naïve depressive pondering I had accidentally discovered determinism. I’ve since been in a constant nihilistic state and it’s been detrimental to my existence.

Has anyone else experienced this philosophical conundrum and pulled themselves out of it? I’ve talked to therapists but none of them have has the slightest understanding of what I’m talking about.

slickwombat t1_ivu50lx wrote on November 10, 2022 at 5:03 PM

I have no expertise in mental health, so I'm going to leave that part aside other than to say talking to therapists seems like the right approach.

Just in terms of the philosophical issue, what do you take determinism to be and what is the conundrum?

aChristianPhilosophy t1_ivrdsyt wrote on November 10, 2022 at 1:21 AM

Hi. By determinism, are you referring to the absence of free will? If so, what arguments made you come up with this conclusion? The fact is that we all feel like we have free will, and we all behave as though everyone else has free will. I.e. if I do a bad deed intentionally, it seems correct to blame me personally, as opposed to blaming nature which made me act this way.

simply_watery t1_ivxl4kz wrote on November 11, 2022 at 10:47 AM

You are not nihilistic, since nihilist people don’t get depressed for very long. There is really no point to be depressed since nihilism don’t value anything over anything. What you have is a reluctance to accept reality.