Optimistic nihilism doesn't ignore that, it just doesn't share the same implicit, Christian-influenced standards for existence your post does, nor is it inherently proselytizing. It doesn’t all have to be this way, though. I’m new to this and have done some reading through the internet and Reddit, so I’m still trying to understand this. Another example is if my worldview is that everyone should recycle to keep the environment clean, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't feel. There are a. This is a pessimistic nihilism; Instead the Nazis is optimistic. People who are depressed, consumed by nihilism, pessimism, will not produce offspring, because they are also anti-natalists, and so on. The association between nihilism and depression is entirely reasonable. ago. Nothing can occur without the knowledge and sanction of the omnipotent creator god. However, it’s important to remember that nihilism is not inherently pessimistic. . Since affective nihilism comes from a pas-sive, pessimistic, and life-denying evaluative stance, affective nihilism is more likely to function as an immature psychological defense and a spontaneous protective mech-anism. And you dont have to be depressed to dislike something, thats like saying of you dont like dogs you have mental illness. CryptoIt’s really easier to be pessimistic. and the manga, for the real nihilistic feel. Table of Contents (click to expand) Pessimistic Generalization; Nihilism Vs The World; Conclusion: When Life Gives You Lemons; Because nihilism denies the meaning one could subjectively attribute to something, which robs one of the agency one seems to be already exercising, the actors in the process of meaning-making (i. v. Stoicism doesn't put absolute value on actions. So whose imagination is it that there are so many needless and preventable problems? No one in the 21st-century should be without clean drinking water, without good food, and without shelter, and all parents should have adequate resources to be good parents, and yet, I am told that billions are economically suffering,. It implies the possibility of being wrong. (this was Nietzsche’s verdict on Schopenhauer’s pessimistic philosophy). Nihilists do not hold to commonly accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence, such as objective truth, knowledge, morality, values, or meaning. Confusing Existentialism With Existential Crisis. Aired: April 2011 – July 2011. Many of my family and friends, most of whom are either fairly religious or humanistic/new atheist, know that I subscribe to the philosophy of nihilism, and therefore, given their limited understanding of the concept, probably expect me to behave in a pessimistic way. The former is the one that is depressing, while the latter is the one that thinks "well if nothing in the world matters, then I can fully enjoy life without worries!". toastertroodle • 3 yr. Friedrich Nietzsche aptly summarized this problem in The Gay Science (1882, second edition 1887): “The total character of the world. Cynicism being the idea that humanity, and to a personal level, is the source of all suffering instead of inherent in the universe like philosophical pessimism. INTPs and Nihilism, Cynisism and Pessimism. same will take that as good thing same will be terrified of that thought. Cowboy Bebop is some solid anime too. It is the abyss into we must descend, “the darkest night before the dawn” (Nietzsche, 1968, 12). You can find this assertion in both popular and academic literature, yet as widespread as it is, it isn't really an accurate portrayal of. So a true Primitive-Nihilists ®, nothing matters, etc. In short, Camus doesn't reject pessimism as a philosophically reasonable premise, but he offers solutions for how to live well despite the persistence of. How you approach this realization, would either make you an Existentialist or Absurdist. Being pessimistic or optimistic is related to a person's emotions. A philosophy that seeks to understand the meaning of life—or lack thereof. Edit: However, I don't think that makes posting what the alleged 14-year-olds are posting any better, considering that the fact that the lack of variety in discussions revolving Nihilism doesn't make the edgy content any better than it really is, and a lot of people actually still have questions that aren't easily answered through. As for the nihilism part, it also has gradients: pessimistic nihilism and optimistic nihilism. ago. Together with the Upanishads, it was a great source of inspiration for the archpessimist Schopenhauer himself. Nihilism tells you that the universe is without meaning. 26 votes, 20 comments. , F. An existential nihilist accepts that there is no point in anything and will not search for any. To be with a pessimist is to know that you are with a pessimist. Humans consistently search for meaning to explain life events. This root word implies the most basic belief of this philosophy; nothing objectively matters, there is no inherent meaning to life. It uses the absurd plot as a device to deeply explore its themes, characters and relevant philosophies - mainly the central idea of the duality of pessimistic nihilism contrasted with optimistic nihilism, existentialism and absurdism, which is seamlessly explored through Joy and. Hey! Not my fault. The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. Excerpt from a letter written by Lord Shaxx to the Speaker, dated three years ago: I do not appreciate wasting time that should be spent forging Guardians into their best selves. Optimistic and pessimistic nihilism refers to the interpetation of nihilism: if you're bothered by it, you're a pessimistic nihilist, if not, an optimistic. Nihilism is simply a base belief that atheistic philosophy builds off of. fleamont. People who are depressed, consumed by nihilism, pessimism, will not produce offspring, because they are also anti-natalists, and so on. Not really, absurdism is the idea that life has no intrinsic meaning, but the meaning you assign to it is real. Photo: HBO. True nihilistic stories don't deal in absolutes. CryptoFind 22 different ways to say NIHILISM, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus. " It's the logical conclusion to centuries of philosophical inquiry and. e. Igarashi Ganta’s class was supposed to have an amazing day at Deadman Wonderland, the local prison amusement park, where prisoners do dangerous activities for the entertainment of. Nietzsche’s contemporary, Schopenhauer, had a remarkably pessimistic view of life, which Nietzsche himself characterized as a form of nihilism. As a result there are not many contradictions in stoicism. "If nothing matters, I don't matter". ~ Le Monde. I think there’s optimistic nihilism, true nihilism, and pessimistic nihilism. The three-profile models comprised a group of ambivalents. Not by simply “being happier”, but by practicing better self-care, like exercising, meditating, cultivating loving friendships, and getting a good night’s sleep. Critiques of nihilism. The term nihilism comes from the Latin word ‘nihil’ which literally means “nothing. There's this viral fatalistic pessimistic nihilism i see here that's fixated on the fact that meaning doesnt matter to the universe - and never did - but that's not the context in which the word "meaning" has a definition. The quote is often misunderstood or taken out of context. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things. Optimistic Nihilists decide life is good, just because they…In order to get to “active nihilism” - or the perspective-based creation, whereby given dominant cultural values are transformed by oneself into something more original - one has to FIRST pass through the sullen gauntlet of passive nihilism, which is, if different, still akin to the modern-day clinical diagnosis of “depression. ago. nihilism: [noun] a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless. Buddhism is not Annihilationism because it establish idea of karma (i. Assuming that nihilism is always pessimistic can lead to misunderstandings of the concept and oversimplification of complex philosophical ideas. I see so many posts here of people freaking out over the fact that r/nihilism is host to depressed people or pessimists. The term “nihilist” is vulgarly intended to depict a pessimistic person, who does not find meaningful aspects to their life. Deflationary and Conservative Metaethical Nihilism Now that we have a firmer grasp of nihilism we can consider some broader issues. ― John Fowles, The Collector. This philosophy can be quite depressing, as it suggests that life is essentially pointless, many adherents of such ‘pessimistic nihilism,’ have done a good job of marking this philosophical position out as one that delivers poor mental health over the years, but this isn’t necessarily true, because Nihilists can also be ‘optimistic. -2. I chose to conclude; this means that all meaning is what you decide it to be. The phrase itself is a contradiction. There are many who would call themselves "Nihilists", who seem to fundementally misunderstand nihilism as being inherently pessimistic or fatalistic. In a deranged universe, true horror comes when our secret suspicions of disorder are confirmed, when we are forced to confront the unknown, when we suffer the misfortune of beholding even a fleeting glimpse of the invisible. Nihilism is the philosophical viewpoint that denies or lacks belief in any or all of the reputedly meaningful aspects of life. OnMyOwn4 • 3 days ago. Business, Economics, and Finance. Nihilism represented a crude form of positivism and materialism, a revolt against the established social order; it negated all authority exercised by the state, by the church, or by the family. Epistemological Nihilism . Ah, that makes more sense. inheritance of actions). every negative aspect of life is associated with nihilism. Nothing is nothing. En él el nihilismo, por primera vez, se hace consciente. The problem I see is that optimism means, simply, hopefulness or confidence about the FUTURE success of something. A. I don't understand this. For the first time, in him nihilism becomes conscious. & Columbia-Warner Distributors. e. I know it, it’s a cross over no one asked for, but here you are. Actions are not destroyed at death and inherited in next birth. I classify nihilism as having two main schools of thoughts; the optimistic ones and the pessimistic ones. Both are positively correlated to health and resilience, but while hope is more directly related to agency, optimism is more. It has been associated with several other outlooks and views, and it typically has pessimistic connotations. Yes this is what I was attempting to get at, in a way it is a combination of nihilism mixed with stoicism, we can look up to. no need to imagine it. I consider myself to be a nihilist, as I find it obvious that morality, purpose, meaning, free will, etc. ”Nihilism is a philosophical concept that states that there is no objective purpose, absolute meaning or value. Anyways, yeah, fuck pessimistic nihilismFrom what i know nihilism isnt something pessimistic or optimistic its just a blank state of nothing matters so nihilism being "Optimistic" just either seems like an oxymoron An oxymoron is when you combine two words that are apparently contradictory. Nihilism is just the belief that life doesn't have objective meaning. Hello all, TLDR: I need criticisms of nihilism. That's it. Our illusions crumble, leaving us doomed and alone in a dark abyss. don't exsist in an…i was surprised too. It is based on a deep-seated belief that there is no intrinsic purpose to life. The association between nihilism and depression is entirely reasonable. Yet, you. They seem to hold the perspective that "nihilism" is best summed asKey Takeaways. 42 votes, 16 comments. Nihilism isn't optimistic nor pessimistic. Finally, pessimism is not nihilism. But I don't see any difference…He believed history would judge us, says Ian Birchall. I’m currently writing an essay on the question “is nihilism is an inherently pessimistic philosophy?”. Pessimists, on the other hand, tend to be arrogant, trying to assign objective value to. The optimists say "there is no point in life, therefore live your life to whatever you subjectively feel makes you happy and fulfilled. CryptoThe internet has used nihilism for "anything but explicitly religious theistic conceptions of morality and purpose" for decades. The overcoming of radical nihilism and the management of pessimism, then, requires that the pessimistic phase of thought does not for long dominate the mind . This article dives specifically into pessimistic nihilism and how to. -. I'm acutely aware that by making these pessimistic arguments, I may, as a direct result, bring the moods of other people down and make them feel that there is no hope for them. I don’t want to be able to sleep at night because I don’t care about what’s happening tomorrow. It's not pessimistic nihilism - it's just how nihilism is. Meet our 39 experts. , you, me, your neighbor, society at large) do not see nihilism positively. I also think that there's a third group: people who are depressed and then start adopting nihilism. Nihilism is too pessimistic; Nihilists believe life is meaningless and contains no inherent purpose. nebetsu. t. Pessimistic nihilism revolves around the idea that miseries vastly outnumber pleasures and that happiness is impossible to achieve. It sucks that these stereotypes exist but that just means we need more optimistic nihilists to break these barriers. The term was famously used by Friedrich Nietzsche to describe the disintegration of traditional morality in Western society. Nietzsche recognized passive nihilism in the pessimistic philosophy of Schopenhauer and in Buddhism. In other words, some argue that passive nihilism accepts the destruction of value and meaning. The Conqueror 2. But this is a necessary evil in order to try and prevent future players from being introduced into this game. "nothing" seems like such an abstract concept that we can't help but polarize it with there being a. Existentialism is about personal meaning, not just pleasure. Similar to passive nihilism, the metaphysical extreme of absolute discontinuity and nothingness,. There’s no mercy in things. Nihilism lets you see things in a logical, practical lense. One easily follows the other though. As an existential nihilist you accept that life is not only meaningless but also that there’s no point in trying to give meaning to it. Those feelings are totally valid…Nihilism reminds us that we are not gods, and that despite all of the accomplishments and wonders of civilization, humans cannot alter the fact that they possess only a finite amount of mastery and control over their own destinies. They should not seek change, that is purpose, value. In the past year this sub has grown by about 15-20k people. I think the "pessimist" and "optimist" modifiers for "nihilism" aren't really the best words to capture what people seem to mean by the terms "optimistic nihilism" and "pessimistic nihilism". The first type is life-affirming, the second type is pessimistic, the third type is indifferent, clinical and materialistic and the forth type is dehumanizing and immoral. There is religion, psychology and philosophy involved heavily in the plot. Nihilism was eventually infused with the existentialist focus on individual experiences to create existential nihilism, a skeptical and pessimistic ideology that sees all existence as meaningless. Existential nihilism. I consider myself to be a nihilist, as I find it obvious that morality, purpose, meaning, free will, etc. And what is nihilism? Nihilism is the philosophy that captures what I just shared. You struggling to cope with reality. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission . It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. Indeed you could yourself be a nihilist and have no idea. 789). Invariably, many of these refuse nihilism in favor of an absolutization of moral values,. The movie does not start with Evelyn at a nihilistic base. The link between pessimism and nihilism is present, but the former does not necessarily lead to the latter, as philosophers such as Albert Camus believed. Crypto30 votes, 48 comments. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844—1900) Nietzsche was a German philosopher, essayist, and cultural critic. Our lives have no purpose. Nihilism lets you see things in a logical, practical lense. 'Nihilism' means the absence of meaning. People assume that if you're a nihilist that you're hellbent on mass destruction or a depressed edgy teenager who doesn't have a social life. You're coming very close, yet not hitting the mark. 'Nothing matters' is used when talking from. This is because pain is far more prevalent than. r/nihilism A chip A close button A chip A close buttonHappy pessimists and depressed optimists. But optimistic nihilism is more along the lines of, "nothing matters, so I can make my own meaning". Quotes tagged as "nihilistic" Showing 1-27 of 27. it's a way to describe a phenomenon where a person starts seriously doubting some fundamental truths that kept him motivated in the past. If you derive any meaning from nihilism at all, you're no longer a nihilist. In my opinion, the more profound half. Not by simply “being happier”, but by practicing better self-care, like exercising, meditating, cultivating loving friendships, and getting a good night’s sleep. I also just got sick of myself wallowing in pessimistic nihilism. Just start running, run away from your thoughts. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy. 9. it's like everyone hates morbius but nobody has seen it. But I guess some people insist on keeping their heads in the sand and believe that life can always be good. The. Nihilism is not depression - you do not have to inject some sort of overarching purpose to have personal desires. He doesn't ever get grouped in with the classical. Your parents don't matter to most other people or the universe, but they matter to you. Nihilism and pessimism are concerned with the conditions under which we make normative claims in a world that is inherently meaningless. In one account of human affairs, an all-powerful deity rules over everything. In pessimistic terms, Schopenhauer's ideas were heavily influential in the anime and movie. This is because of the upbringing they gave you and the positive relationship you continue to experience with them. I'm not a weeb, but the series and specially the movie are genial. Some users here seem to confuse existential nihilism with existentialism (or vice versa), but they aren't completely the same. The Movement of Nihilism is also a great collection of essays. 0 coins. Philosophical pessimism is actually the belief that life is inherent suffering regardless of meaning or Gods. nebetsu. Pessimistic nihilists, or any other form of nihilism, are no more or less intrinsically and/or logically flawed than this sub's holy crusade for optimism. 20 votes, 10 comments. Friedrich Nietzsche from the series Der kranke Nietzsche. Nihilistic realization tends to be, for many, a depressing thing - we live in a world wherein we are told we're special, that we should have goals and ambitions and dreams - and nihilism can. Because they’re searching for an external source of meaning that they think SHOULD exist, and failing to find it. Optimistic nihilism can be an incredibly empowering belief. My understanding of nihilism is that it is just as the Latin translation states "nothing". Nietzsche was. An exemple of not-pessimist nihilism is Nietzsche or Camus. If you ever wondered how Camus would look like with messy hair. What Johnson contends, though, is that both health within an antiblack racist world and liberation from an antiblack racist world ultimately depend on the pursuit of a specific mode of black nihilism—namely, strong black nihilism. Positive Nihilists likewise, if pessimistic nihilists want plus, to get to zero, positive optimistic nihilists want to maintain positivity if not improve it. I say forget it. While traditional nihilism can be viewed as pessimistic due to its stance on life’s inherent lack of meaning, optimistic nihilism takes this realization and frames it positively. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Optimistic nihilism is the ability of a person to create his own meaning after fully accepting that the universe is a large place of meaninglessness. Despite this, however, many of them also observe that I. A delusion that oneself or the world, or parts thereof, have ceased to exist. Nope. (I 27). Optimistic nihilism does not try to do what you exclaimed, it simply is a alternative to pessimistic nihilism suggesting you should enjoy yourself and do what makes you happy until you die rather then see everything as pointless and meaningless. That is why nihilism is divided into two; pessimistic nihilism and optimistic nihilism. I mean no matter how you cut the pie of nihilism, pessimistic or optimistic its still a pie that taste like shit lol. Ive had depression for many years and it eventually led me in the direction of nihilism. It's not pessimistic nihilism - it's just how nihilism is. Schopenhauer’s most influential work, The World As Will and Representation, examines the role of humanity’s main motivation, which Schopenhauer. com!It is about recognizing that we have the power to create our own paths and to find meaning in our own way, rather than relying on external sources of meaning or purpose. Everything is nothing, including the consciousness of. Table of Contents (click to expand) Pessimistic Generalization; Nihilism Vs The World; Conclusion: When Life Gives You Lemons; Because nihilism denies the meaning one could subjectively attribute to something, which robs one of the agency one seems to be already exercising, the actors in the process of meaning-making (i. Nihilism is used for a lot of positions in philosophy… that there is nothing at all; that we know nothing at all; that there are no moral principles at all, and virtually any other position that could be framed with the word `nothing’. If nothing matters, there are no reasons for anything. We don’t chose how optimistic or pessimistic we feel once we come to a nihilistic view, so pessimism is not inherently wrong, and neither is optimism or stoicism. We, “being bound in honour”, the reviewer said, “to ignore all words which are retracted by the Author”. CryptoApproaching the most representatively “pessimistic” poem, as it would later be seen, of these early productions, Fraser’s noted the redaction of “Empedocles on Etna” in 1853 but only to say nothing should be remarked of it. Optimism and Pessimism are both Nihilism. Depression is a mental illness while pessimism is an opinion. Not nihilism in the pessimistic sense, but rather in the sense that a nihilist doesn't have specific beliefs, or. What is pessimistic nihilism? Pessimistic Nihilism is pretty much a synonym for existential nihilism. It uses the absurd plot as a device to deeply explore its themes, characters and relevant philosophies - mainly the central idea of the duality of pessimistic nihilism contrasted with optimistic nihilism, existentialism and absurdism, which is. They argue that life is meaningless and reject all religious and moral. Optimistic nihilism is basically existentialism. It’s a spectacularly. Actions are not destroyed at death and inherited in next birth. 5. Thus, for Nietzsche, whereas Schopenhauer’s rejection of optimism is to be commended, his pessimistic alternative is to be similarly rejected. MineDogger • 5 yr. 1. Thought-Provoking Nihilism Quotes. Those are usually the most pessimistic of all three. But it is not nihilism. Time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted. It suggests that, since there’s no predefined purpose, individuals are free to create their own meaning and approach life with optimism. Optimism and Pessimism are equal. Neal Stephenson created the Hieroglyph Project to convince sci-fi writers to stop worrying and learn to love the future. Suffering is hardwired into all living things. Suffering is as subjective and personal as it is infinite. r/IdeologyPolls A chip A chipThe pessimistic tenor strikes the poem in the ultimate stanza where the speaker states in clear terms that Mr. fleamont. It rejects various aspects of human existence that are generally accepted and considered fundamental, like objective truth, moral truth and the value and purpose of life. But you can be with a nihilist and have no idea. Yes, you may be a pessimist or a nihilist, but only in thought – a nihilist at a distance, a pessimist at arm’s length. It's the reason Nietzsche made it his mission to defeat nihilism by the transvaluation of all values. S Eliot seems to be the most pessimistic poet in terms of his reaction to Nihilism, of the anarchy, plight, loneliness and pathos in a world without any presence of a supreme being. It has been associated with several other outlooks and views, and it typically has pessimistic connotations. ago. Our interpretation is always going to be different but there is only one and, with it, there isn't any meaningful thing, no gratifying activity, no. (e. The optimistic nihilist looks at a world lacking meaning and purpose and sees the. (I have a much more pessimistic view of humans now than then, even with transhumanism and whatnot). As a pessimistic nihilist I could say the same about the other side. A Nihilist would answer that question and say you are “nothing” and “it wouldn’t matter”. The Philosophy of “Optimistic Nihilism,” Or How to Find Purpose in a Meaningless Universe. I'm just saying I react to Nihilism in a optimistic manner hence calling it optimistic Nihilism. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment. By definition, Nihilism is the realization that life has no inherent meaning. Business, Economics, and Finance. Nihilism to me is the critique of unexamined quasi-religious beliefs. Open menu Open navigation Go to Reddit Home. A pessimist and an optimist. I can't seem to attach myself to one side only. Pessimism involves the belief that bad things will happen or that things will get worse, but this does not require nihilism. some use it to understand that money, status, eventually joy and similar things don't cost anything, but they still got something inside. Join. Optimistic nihilism can be an incredibly empowering belief. g, when you think of other people as "human. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Nihilism: nothing has meaning in it itself. It was a widespread style of thinking throughout 19th century Europe, led. They don't even dive deep into the meaning of life. You could conlude; this means that the universe is intrinsically meaningless, this is depressing. He views beliefs and social norms as illusory constructs lacking objectivity. ". , you,. , that it is a form of Buddhism (GM P 5), based on the judgment that existence is worthless (GM II 21), and associated with a will to nothingness (GM II 24 and. Being pessimistic or optimistic is related to a person's emotions. His philosophy was more "yeah life is hard and all, but this is what makes it beautiful, never give up and push through walls. This will also probably good for a lot of your edgelords who think nihilism is depression, lack of fulfillment, and/or suffering. Nihilism, derived from the Latin word “nihil,” meaning nothing, is a philosophical concept that challenges traditional values and beliefs by asserting that life lacks inherent meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. 31 votes, 51 comments. Many people just don't understand nihilism and use it as an explanation for their depression. If A is bigger than B and B is bigger than C, I do not assume A is bigger. Rather, black nihilism emerges in a variety of forms, including both optimistic and pessimistic modes. Neal Stephenson has seen the future—and he doesn’t like it. I just wanted to clear this up because I see a lot of pessimists who think they are nihilists (you can be both, but it's not the same). 7 A Clockwork Orange. Prima facie grounding for this assertion is that Qoheleth, like Benatar, raises the issue of whether coming into existence may be a harm—and gives an affirmative answer. ) It involves turning away from life and rejecting all the values of this world. They are not (Primitive-Nihilists ®) . To Tower comes a war in red; an orphan sounds the empire's call. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥವನ್ನು ಓದಿ. An exemple of pessimistic nihilism is Emil Cioran or Shopenhauer. That's it. nihilism is just understanding that nothing matters and that's all. You can get to the point where you realize nihilism is empowering, or you can fill that void with something like religion. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. AstronautOk608 • 3 days ago. I see a lot of posts talking about suicide and ending one's life because nothing matters. Emotions are real, they emerge from the very complicated neural network we have in our frontal lobe. It is a subjective response to the philosophy of Nihilism and it finds a reason to live in the face of meaningless. e. 12 votes, 35 comments. “Certainty is not to be had. Nihilists are skeptical. Nihilism was a gloomy philosophical school from the 19th century – its leaders argued nothing mattered, and life had no higher purpose. Synonyms for NIHILIST: nihilistic, cynical, fatalistic, pessimistic, despairing, defeatist, desperate, unlikely; Antonyms of NIHILIST: optimistic, hopeful, upbeat. And there’s depression. They live by the concept that there is no meaning in life. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Most of the posts have something to do with depression. But in this case, we're not talking of the conventional meaning of pessimism and optimism. Optimistic and pessimistic nihilism refers to the interpetation of nihilism: if you're. Nihilism may be understood as a combination of theses. All your grudges, worries, and regrets are trivial in hindsight. Figures 1 and S1 present the latent means of optimism and pessimism for the four- and three-profile models to clarify the distribution of classes. The fact that nihilism is in and of it self a pessimistic/cynical take on the universe only further muddies the water.