,NIHILISM3 ,A ,LIE ,9 ,S]VICE ,TO ,! ,EXI/+ 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,TALK+ AB\T NIHILISM1 MU* LESS ATTEMPT+ TO DEF9E & CRITIQUE IT1 IS AN EXHAU/+ SORT ( TASK1 AK9 TO TALK+ TO A MIS*IEV\S TODDL] :O HAS LE>N$ SOME EMPTY S+LE-WORD RESPONSES ?AT MAKE AN ADULT GO 9 CIRCLES4 ,& ONE RISKS S]I\S /RA9 FROM ALL ! EY]OLL+ NECESS>Y TO GET ?R\< ANY SU* DISCUSSION4 ,MO/ ( US RECOGNIZE ?AT TO BO!R TO DEBATE OR CRITIQUE NIHILISM IS TO LOSE FROM ! \TSET4 ,9 ! SAME WAY ?AT FE$+ ! TROLLS IS A GAME UTT]LY DISCONNECT$ FROM S9C]E COMP>ISON & COLLABORATION ON IDEAS4 ,& YET TOTAL DIS5GAGEM5T IS UNSU/A9ABLE4 

,:AT >E WE TO DO :5 =M] FRI5DS OR LOV]S />T FALL+ = SU* 9ANE TRIPE & !N >E SOMEH[ %OCK$ BY \R REVULSION8 ,ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO F> TO F9D SIMM]+ DISDA9 = NIHILISM 9 RADICAL CIRCLES & YET IT SEES LITTLE EXPRESSION TO ?OSE CALL+ !MSELVES 0NIHILI/S0 BEYOND SNUBB+ OR LAU<+ AT IT ) MEMES4 ,WE SIMPLY CLU/] AP>T FROM ONE ANO!R4 ,9DIVIDUALLY REASONABLE 9 \R REFUSAL TO GET DRAWN 91 BUT ULTIMATELY IMPRACTICAL ON ! :OLE4 ,EV]Y ONCE 9 A :ILE ) TROLLS SOMEONE HAS TO SUIT UP & %OVEL !IR %IT4 ,& SO TO IS EV]Y ONCE 9 A :ILE IT WOR? REIT]AT+ :AT G>BAGE NIHILISM IS4 

,9 ?IS ,I MEAN ! CORE IDEA ( NIHILISM & ! WAY IT'S US$ 9 PRACTICE4 ,I DON'T REALLY WANT TO WA/E TIME TALK+ AB\T ! PRECISE CONT\RS ( ! MILD ACADEMIC FAD 9 CONT95TAL CIRCLES1 OR ! HI/ORICAL FOOTNOTE ( LONG DEAD #a#i? C5TURY ,RUSSIAN REVOLUTION>IES & SOME RESIDUAL POETRY1 OR ! LOOSE CIRCLE ( =M] AN>*I/S ?AT ALL BURN$ \T TOGE!R 9 ! LATE S & TRI$ TO DRESS UP DESPAIR AS SOME K9D ( HIP ES!TIC4 ,I MEAN ,I WILL TALK AB\T !M1 ,I'VE GOT ESSAYS L9$ UP RESPOND+ TO !IR P>TICUL>S4 ,BUT IT'S ALL SO UTT]LY BOR+1 SU* A DRUDGE4 ,& SO MU* ( ! O/5SIBLE PREOCCUPATIONS ( SAID GR\PS >E OR?OGONAL TO ! REAL ISSUE ( NIHILISM4 ,9 LETT+ !M SET ! T]MS ( ! DISC\RSE ! REAL SUB/ANCE ( !IR CORE PROVOCATION IS DODG$ & :AT IS SO P]NICI\S AB\T IT IS LEFT TO SPREAD ROT4 ,SO1 BE=E GETT+ 9TO ?OSE WE$S1 ,I ?9K !RE'S VALUE 9 FIR/ GO+ OV] -- 9 A RELATIVELY EV5H&$ & NON-POLEMIC SORT ( WAY -- :AT ,I & MANY O!RS F9D SO OBJECTIONABLE AB\T NIHILISM4 ,:AT'S ACTUALLY MOTIVAT+ ?IS FURY & DI/RU/4 ,( C\RSE BE+ FRANK & HONE/ IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PLAY ! GAME MO/ NIHILI/S >E ACTUALLY PLAY+1 & SADLY ?IS APPROA* IS A LOT LESS 5T]TA9+ ?AN JU/ TALK+ MAD %IT1 BUT ,I HOPE Y\'LL READ ON NONE!LESS4 

,IT MU/ BE NOT$ FROM ! \TSET ?AT !RE'S A K9D ( DEF5SIVE CONTRADICTION 9 ! V]Y IDEA ( NIHILISM ?AT'S IMM$IATELY APP>5T :5 Y\ TRY TO CL>IFY1 0:AT EXACTLY DOES 'MEAN+LESS' MEAN80 ,! ESCAPE HAT* IS OBVI\S3 A NIHILI/ CAN JU/ 5DLESSLY REPEAT ! WORDS 0?AT DOESN'T MEAN ANY?+0 TO EV]Y?+ 9CLUD+ !IR [N /ATEM5T4 ,TALK+ TO SU* A ,B>TLEBY IS ISOMORPHIC TO PRESS+ A CROSSWALK BUTTON1 SO ,I'M GO+ TO />T \T BY ASSUM+ A MORE 5GAG+ NIHILISM1 ONE WILL+ TO SPEAK 9 SOME APPROXIMATION ( RATIONAL T]MS4 ,9 SU* CONTEXT ,I ?9K ! MO/ SUB/ANTIVE DEF9ITION = 0MEAN+LESS0 IS A SITUATION :]E SOME?+ IS P]FECTLY SYMMETRIC1 PO9T+ 9 ALL DIRECTIONS1 ALL POSSIBLE 9T]PRETATIONS OR MODELS OR VALUES EQUALLY 79CLUD+ ! 9COH]5T ONES7 & ?US CONVEY+ NO?+4 ,UTT]LY 9DI/9CT1 9 O!R WORDS1 )\T /RUCTURE OR AFF9ITY OR DIRECTION OR 9CL9ATION4 ,& ?US )\T CONT5T4 ,=MLESS4 0,9DIFF]5T10 AS AN $ITOR ( ,HO/IS SUCC9CTLY PHRAS$ ?+S1 0TO ANY P>TICUL> WAY40 

,) ?IS PROMPT ,I'D P]SONALLY PHRASE ! MO/ COMMON =M ( NIHILISM AS3 ,! NOTION ?AT :5 EXAM9$ AT MAXIMAL VIGILANCE OR SCOPE ! TOPOLOGY ( POSSIBLE VALUES_/DESIRES HAS NO DI/9CT UNIV]SAL ATTRACTORS OR FL[S4 

,I RECOGNIZE ?IS USES LANGUAGE OR CONCEPTS 7EG 0TOPOLOGY07 \TSIDE ! LIFE EXP]I5CE ( SOME PEOPLE1 BUT ,I ?9K IT'S BETT] = ! PRECISION4 ,& NOTE ?AT ONE CAN REPLACE 0VALUES0 ) 0MODELS0 TO GET FULL BL[N EPI/EMOLOGICAL NIHILISM RA!R ?AN M]E VALUE NIHILISM4 ,BUT HONE/-TO-GOD FULL-FL$G$ EPI/EMOLOGICAL NIHILISM IS :]E Y\ JU/ />T ?R[+ ?+S AT Y\R 9T]LOCUTOR BECAUSE ALL FUR!R DISC\RSE IS IMPOSSIBLE4 ,PLUS1 Y\ KN[1 :ATEV] !Y CLAIM1 NO ONE ACTUALLY BELIEVES 9 EPI/EMOLOGICAL NIHILISM4 ,AT LEA/ NOT :ILE /ILL HAV+ A REMOTELY FUNCTIONAL NEURAL NET4 ,SO WE'LL /ICK ) VALUE-NIHILISM = ! MOM5T & !N COME BACK TO ! EPI/EMOLOGICAL /UFF LAT]4 

,! CORE PROBLEM ) NIHILISM IS ?AT IT ALWAYS FUNCTIONS AS A SLEI<T ( H& TO PROTECT AN EXI/+ VALUE SET4 ,NIHILISM IS UNIQUELY GOOD AT ?IS BECAUSE 9 PRACTICE IT RESOLVES 9TO NO?+ MORE ?AN ! ASS]TION ?AT ?9K+ FUR!R AB\T SOME?+ IS USELESS BECAUSE ! ULTIMATE 5DPO9T ( ?9K+ AB\T ?+S IS A /ATE :]E ALL VALUES >E EXACTLY EQUAL 9 APPEAL4 ,! CLAIM IS ?AT Y\ REA* AN APEX ( P]FECT 5LI<T5M5T & TRULY REALIZE ?AT 0! />S & ! SKY >E UNC>+0 -- ?AT VALU+ & PURSU+ HAPP9ESS IS NO GREAT] OR LESS SMIL$ UPON BY UNIV]SE ?AN VALU+ & PURSU+ SADNESS4 ,OR RA9B[S1 OR RAPE1 OR HONOR1 OR G5OCIDE1 OR PAP]CLIPS4 ,ONE IS DOOM$ TO REA* -- AS ,NIETZS*E SO FAM\SLY FREAK$ \T AB\T SCI5CE & RATIONALITY SUPPOS$LY S5D+ US T[>DS -- A VANTAGE PO9T1 A CRE/ ABOVE ! FRAY1 FROM :I* ONE CAN SEE ?AT !RE IS NO CONCLUSIVE VALUE 9EXTRICABLY DRAWN TO BY ONE'S 5LI<T5M5T4 ,ALL IDEALS >E HOLL[1 ALL DESIRES >BITR>Y4 ,IT'S A FE> MU* OLD] ?AN ,NIETZS*E1 & HUGELY 9FLU5TIAL4 

,WE ALL KN[ ?AT 9TELLECTUAL VIGILANCE 5DS UP *ANG+ ONE'S VALUES4 ,ONE LE>NS UPON REFLECTION1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT TWO DESIRES >E MUTUALLY 9COMPATIBLE2 ?AT ONE MU/ AT LEA/ BE RECOGNIZ$ AS MORE F\NDATIONAL ?AN ! O!R1 BUT POSSIBLY ! O!R MU/ EV5 BE DROPP$ 5TIRELY4 ,OR WE LE>N ?AT A VALUE WE ?\<T WAS CLE>LY DEF9ABLE IS 9 FACT AN >BITR>Y CLU/] ( ?+S1 ONLY HELD TOGE!R TEMPOR>ILY1 ) NO DEEP SUB/ANCE4 ,?AT ! IDEOLOGY WE ASSUM$ WE W]E WORK+ FROM WAS 9/EAD FILL$ ) NOT JU/ ) T5SIONS BUT FULL-BL[N CONTRADICTIONS ?AT UPON EXAM9ATION TE> IT IRREVOCABLY AP>T4 ,SIMIL>LY1 Y\ DESIRE PLEASURE & DISDA9 PA9 BUT !N1 UPON LE>N+ H[ TO M5TALLY /EP BACK & FLIP A NEURAL SWIT* ?AT REV]SES ! TWO1 SUDD5LY CAN F9D NO OBJECTIVE META-PREF]5CE BETWE5 !M4 

,IF E?ICS -- ! SECTOR ( PHILOSOPHY CONC]N$ ) EXPLOR+ 0\<TS0 -- IS ! EXPLORATION ( ?IS TOPOLOGICAL NETWORK ( DESIRES AB\T DESIRES 7& DESIRES AB\T DESIRES AB\T DESIRES & SO ON71 NIHILISM IS ! CLAIM ?AT :5 Y\ GET ! FUR!/ \T 9 META-DESIRES1 :5 Y\ HAVE MAPP$ EV]Y DEP5D5CY & 9T]ACTION1 EV]Y T5SION & FL[1 NOT ONLY DOES NO?+ RESOLVE 9ESCAPABLY AS Y\R MO/ DEEPLY ROOT$ OR 9ESCAPABLE META-DESIRE1 BUT NO DEEP /RUCTURE IS REVEAL$ AT ALL4 ,RA!R Y\ >E LEFT ADRIFT1 Y\R 9QUIRY BOTTOMS \T & Y\ BECOME CAPABLE ( *OOS+ TO ADOPT ANY VALUE OR DESIRE1 ) NO NEW SIGN TO GUIDE ! WAY SAVE ! MO/ BASE ( HAPP5/ANCE1 ! MO/ SUP]FICIAL ( FLICK]+ IMPULSES4 ,?US ! POPUL> CONC]N ) NIHILISM BE+ A GATEWAY TO %ALL[ H$ONISM4 

,SU* FE>S ( NIHILISM >E WIDESPREAD1 IRONICALLY TOO (T5 BECAUSE ! FE>FUL ACCEPT ! NIHILI/ PREMISE4 ,MANY PEOPLE MOM5T>ILY RECOGNIZE ?AT !IR PRES5T BELIEFS OR VALUES >E UNSU/A9ABLE1 CRITICALLY UNSUPPORT$ & 9 CON/ANT DANG] ( COLLAPSE %\LD !Y BE EXAM9$ TOO CLOSELY4 ,BUT UN=TUNATELY !SE SAME PEOPLE VIOL5TLY %Y AWAY FROM ACTUALLY %$D+ (F SU* BAGGAGE1 9 NO SMALL P>T BECAUSE !Y HAVE NO IDEA YET :AT MI<T REPLACE !M1 & RESPOND BY BELIEV+ ?AT NO?+ WILL4 ,9 ANY CASE1 TO SE>* = BETT] MODELS ( ! WORLD OR MORE COH]5T VALUE SY/EMS W\LD MEAN LETT+ !IR PRES5T ONES CRUMBLE1 & RA!R ?AN CA/ !MSELVES 9TO A POSSIBLY FRUITLESS QUE/1 !Y'D PREF] TO WALL UP4 ,TO ACCEPT !Y'RE FULL ( %IT & JU/ EMBRACE IT OR ]ASE KN[L$GE ( IT4 ,TO MAKE !IR B$ :]E !Y /&1 VIEW+ !IR [N CONTRADICTION-RIDDL$ P]SPECTIVE AS AS GOOD ( A LIE AS ANY O!R4 ,EASI] ?AN RADICAL 9QUIRY IS TO LEAP ON ! SUSPICION ?AT IT'D BE FRUITLESS4 

,! OCCURR5CE ( ?IS K9D ( BELIEF 9 NIHILISM 9 ! G5]AL POPULACE HAS HI/ORICALLY DRIV5 A CONSEQU5T OP5 HO/ILITY TO 9QUIRY DUE TO !SE NIHILI/S' EXPECTATIONS ?AT SU* CAN ONLY LEAD TO A MORE EXPLICIT1 P]MAN5T1 OR LESS OPPORTUNI/IC NIHILISM4 ,:I* W\LD1 9 TURN1 RISK DISRUPT+ ! 9COH]5T VALUES OR ID5TITIES !Y'VE SECRETLY US$ !IR [N NIHILISM TO PROP UP4 ,& BECAUSE 9TELLECTUAL VIGILANCE IS ! DEF9+ PA? OR HABIT ( GEEKS1 PHILOSOPH]S1 SCI5TI/S1 & O!R RADICALS1 ?OSE COMMUNITIES HAVE BE5 FREQU5TLY FAC$ ) *>GES ( 0NIHILISM0 FROM SU* SECRET NIHILI/S4 

,NATURALLY SOME AMONG US FEEL AN URGE TO TURN 9TO & EMBRACE ! ACCUSATION4 

,AT BE/ ?IS SORT ( SELF-ID5TIFI$ 0ACTIVE NIHILISM0 5DS UP AS ! 9ANE PLATITUDE 0,QUE/ION ,EV]Y?+0 DRESS$ UP A LITTLE $GY4 ,A M]E CALL = MORE SKEPTICISM & CRITICAL DETA*M5T4 ,& :O ON E>? W\LD DISAGREE ) ?AT8 

,BUT IT R>ELY /AYS !RE4 

,BECAUSE 9 PRACTICE AN ALLEGIANCE TO 0QUE/ION+ EV]Y?+0 -- :5 TAK5 MORE S]I\SLY AS A PHILOSOPHY RA!R ?AN A M]E SLOGAN OR PSY*OLOGICAL CORRECTIVE -- MEANS EI!R SECRETLY PRIORITIZ+ SPECIFIC ?+S OR IT MEANS HOLD+ NO ?\<TS :ATSOEV]4 ,! DI/9CTION BETWE5 SKEPTICISM & NIHILISM IS ONE BETWE5 C>EFULLY WEI<+ POSSIBILITIES & REJECT+ ALL SU* MEASUREM5T OR COMP>ISON ALL TOGE!R4 

,:5 ONE HAS AN 9F9ITE >RAY ( ?+S TO 0QUE/ION0 TO AN 9F9ITE DEGREE1 :ATEV] ONE PRIORITIZES 9H]5TLY SMUGGLES 9 SOME BACKGR\ND FRAMEWORK ( ASS]TIONS & VALUES4 ,NORMAL SKEPTICAL PHILOSOPHIES HAVE NO PROBLEM ) ?IS1 !Y'RE HAPPY TO EXPLICITLY NAME :AT'S BE+ HELD 9 H[ MU* SUSPICION -- TO NAME DEGREES ( TRU/ & DEP5D5CIES4 ,TO DI/+UI% ITSELF1 TO CLAIM TO TRULY 0QUE/ION EV]Y?+0 9 A WAY ?AT DOESN'T SURR5D] BY EV] F9D+ ANY SEMBLANCE ( ANSW]S1 NIHILISM MU/ DISC>D ANY SU* /RUCTURE4 ,OR AT LEA/ IT MU/ DISC>D ANY EXPLICIT /RUCTURE4 ,9 ?IS GUISE 0ACTIVE NIHILISM0 5DS UP BE+ JU/ A SLEI<T ( H& BY :I* ONE DI/RACTS EI!R ONESELF OR ONE'S IDEOLOGICAL ACOLYTES ) A MOV+ R$ BALL ( M9DLESS 0NEGATION04 ,SO !Y SP5D ALL !IR TIME 'CRITIQU+' 7OR JU/ REACTIVELY D5Y+7 :]EV] ! BALL B\NCES 9 !IR *ASE ( IT -- :ILE 9 ! PROCESS !Y IGNORE ! RE/ ( ! UNIV]SE ( CONSID]ATIONS BEYOND ?AT S+UL> PO9T4 ,9 ?IS WAY NEW NORMS1 /&>DS & ASSUMPTIONS >E RE9=C$ BEH9D :]EV] ! R&OM FOCAL PO9T ( ATT5TION HAPP5S TO BE4 ,DA% AS FA/ AS Y\ MI<T1 COV]+ AS MU* GR\ND AS Y\ CAN1 Y\ WILL ?R\<\T ALL ?AT TIME LEAVE A MU* L>G] UNIV]SE ( ?+S UNEXAM9$ CONSCI\SLY4 ,EV]Y SY/EMIZ+ OR FRAMEWORK OR SL[LY-BUILT MAP Y\ MI<T *OOSE TO GUIDE Y\R CRITIQUES W\LD BE ITSELF A NEW 0GOD04 ,SO Y\ TRADE AWAY BE+ GUID$ BY /RUCTURES Y\ CAN SEE1 ANALYZE & HAVE AG5CY 9 RECONFIGUR+ TO 9/EAD BE GUID$ BY MORE GUT & SUBRATIONALLY ACCEPT$ /RUCTURES4 

,! ONLY WAY TO AVOID IMPLICIT /RUCTURE CREATION IS TO SOMEH[ AVOID LETT+ ANY ?\<TS1 MODELS1 & DESIRES GEL4 ,NOT TO *ASE (F 9 CIRCLES ATTEMPT+ TO 0CRITIQUE EV]Y?+ 9 'EQUAL MEASURE'01 BUT TO SABOTAGE ! =MATION ( ANY REMOTELY SOLID IDEAS 9 ONE'S SKULL4 ,:E!R ONE POETICALLY VISUALIZES ?IS AS EMPTY /ILL WAT]S1 OR AS A =MLESS *AOS1 ! EFFECT IS ! SAME3 9CAPACITY TO ACT4 ,A M9D TRULY )\T MODELS OR DESIRES -- )\T A PROACTIVE 9T]E/ 9 BUILD+ SU* /RUCTURES -- IS A M9D P]HAPS MAXIMALLY 0FREE0 9T]NALLY1 BUT 9CAPABLE ( 5GAG+ ) ! WID] UNIV]SE4 

,9 BO? DIRECTIONS -- EI!R BY REMOV+ ALL REFLECTION & EXPLICIT /RUCTURE FROM ONE'S M9D TO 9/EAD BECOME A BILLI>D BALL DRIV5 BY SIMPLE IMM$IATE ANIMAL DESIRES OR1 ALT]NATELY1 BY TURN+ UP ! *AOS TO 9F9ITY TO OBLIVIATE ! =MATION ( ?\<TS -- ! 5D RESULT IS TOTALLY UNPALATABLE1 UNLESS ONE'S EM]G+ CORE VALUE IS A REJECTION ( COGNITION ITSELF4 

,?IS IS :Y NIHILISM HAS SU* A REPUTATION AS BE+ ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM = 9TELLECTUALS4 ,! PURE/ EXPRESSION ( 'ACTIVE NIHILISM' IS ! REJECTION ( ?9K+ ITSELF1 & ANY LESS] NIHILISM IS M]ELY AN 9FANTILE %IELD = C]TA9 VALUES4 ,AFT] ALL1 IF 9TELLECTUAL REFLECTION IS SUPPOS$LY TOTALLY 9CONCLUSIVE1 F9D+ NO EM]G5T SIGNAL TO BREAK ! SYMMETRY BETWE5 ALL POSSIBLE DESIRES1 !N Y\ MI<T AS WELL SETTLE ON ! DESIRES Y\ CAME 9 ) & F5D (F ANY T5D5CY TO ?9K OR EVOLVE FUR!R4 

,( C\RSE !RE'S ANO!R NOTEWOR?Y EXIT FROM SU* AN ASSUM$ /ATE ( UNIV]SAL SYMMETRY3 TO JU/ PICK SOME?+ AT R&OM4 ,BUT ! FULL SPACE ( POSSIBLE DESIRES MU* LESS POSSIBLE MODELS ( REALITY IS BIG4 ,9F9ITELY BIG4 ,= V]Y L>GE SORTS ( 9F9ITY4 ,A TRULY R&OM *OICE W\LD BE AN 9SANELY ALI5 ONE4 ,WE'RE NOT JU/ TALK+ AB\T A SUBJECT WANT+ TO TILE ITS FUTURE LI<TCONE ) PAP]CLIPS1 BUT A M9D ) VALUES &_/OR MODELS ( REALITY SO F> FROM \R K5 WE CANNOT EV5 SPEAK ( !M4 ,REMEMB] ?AT ANY?+ LESS ?AN TRULY R&OM W\LD ITSELF BUNDLE 9 UNEXAM9$ OR UNDEMOLI%$ /RUCTURES4 

,I DON'T KN[ ( MANY PEOPLE :O'VE />$ 9TO ! NIHILI/ ABYSS & COME BACK AS UNKN[ABLE LOVECRAFTIAN RIFTS 9 ! FABRIC ( REALITY SEEK+ TO MAXIMIZE WRI?+ EXTRA-DIM5SIONAL DEMON PAP]CLIPS1 SO EI!R WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO WORRY AB\T ?IS444 OR IT'S ! CASE ?AT 9QUIRY 9EVITABLY LEAD+ TO /ATE ( P]FECT SYMMETRY -- META'D BEYOND ALL POSSIBLE VALUES -- IS A HYPO!TICAL SPECULATION ?AT NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY CONCLUSIVELY REA*$4 ,AN 9FLU5TIAL FE> OR BELIEF RA!R ?AN AN ACTUAL REALITY4 

,A COMMON SPECULATIVE FANTASY ) SOMETIMES 9T5SE ES!TIC & EMOTIONAL AFFECT1 BUT NO ACTUAL SUB/ANTIATION BEYOND ! REASSURANCE ( SELF-DELUSION4 

,I W\LD LIKE TO POSIT A PR(\NDLY UNORIG9AL ALT]NATE HYPO!SIS3 ,! VIGILANCE NECESS>Y TO REVEAL & /RIP AWAY ! FALSE PRET5SES ( \R >BITR>Y 9H]IT$ VALUES IS ITSELF AN EM]G5T VALUE4 

,:ILE /RAWM5 CAN BE CON/RUCT$ >\ND T]MS LIKE 0RATIONALITY0 & 0SCI5CE01 !RE REMA9S A DIRECTION ( COH]5T 9QUIRY NONE!LESS ?AT DOES NOT 9VALIDATE ITSELF4 ,I'VE T]M$ ?IS 0RADICALISM0 9 LI<T ( :AT AN>*I/S & O!R POLITICAL RADICALS HAVE TRADITIONALLY F\ND VALUABLE 9 ?AT WORD -- ! PURSUIT ( ROOTS4 ,BUT ?IS IS A />KLY PHILOSOPHICALLY REALI/ POSITION3 IT ASSUMES ?AT !RE >E ROOTS TO BE GOTT5 AT4 ,OR1 P]HAPS LESS AUDACI\SLY1 IT M]ELY F9DS NO?+ TO HOLD ONTO \TSIDE ?AT ASSUMPTION & SO PROCE$S ) IT4 

,:ILE ,I'VE MORE FREQU5TLY 9VOK$ VALUE-NIHILISM ?AN EPI/EMOLOGICAL-NIHILISM UP UNTIL N[1 Y\ CAN SEE ?AT ! TWO >E ( C\RSE DEEPLY CONNECT$ & 9 AN ULTIMATE S5SE 9SEP>ABLE4 

,IF H[EV] RADICALISM IS CORRECT & !RE >E ANY ROOTS TO BE GRABB$ AT -- MO/ FUNDAM5TAL DYNAMICS TO BE F\ND -- 9 \R MODELS ( REALITY1 !N ?IS AUTOMATICALLY BREAKS ANY SUPPOS$ SYMMETRY ( POT5TIAL VALUES @& DESIRES4 ,:5 ONE SE>*ES TO 9F9ITY1 PRESS+ ASYMPTOTICALLY CLOS] TO SAID ROOTS1 IT IS ! SE>* ITSELF ?AT REMA9S1 ?AT BECOMES ONE'S MO/ 9ESCAPABLE EM]G5T VALUE4 

,?IS IS P>T ( ! REASON FOLKS ATTEMPT+ TO 9VOKE VALUE-NIHILISM TO AS A QUICK %IELD TO DEF5D ! LAZY1 RIDICUL\S1 OR UNCONSCIONABLE1 >E SO (T5 DRIV5 TO EMBRACE EPI/EMOLOGICAL-NIHILISM4 ,A RAPACI\S ,C,E,O :O WAVES AWAY ALL REFLECTION ON E?ICAL ISSUES TO UNCRITICALLY SATISFY HIS BASE HUNG]S SUDD5LY />TS SP\T+ H>% DISMISSALS ( ANY OBJECTIVE REALITY4 ,:AT SEEMS AN ABSURD & WEAK NON-SEQUITUR IS 9 FACT DEEPLY NECESS>Y TO KEEP HIS H\SE ( C>DS FROM FALL+4 ,WE SEE ?IS DYNAMIC ALL OV] ! PLACE4 ,! 0Y\ CAN'T TELL ME NOT TO DATE-RAPE0 GUTT]PUNK :O WRAPS HIMSELF 9 ! TRAPP+S ( ! 0OCCULT0 & C>RIES A PASSIONATE GRUDGE AGA9/ 0SCI5CE04 ,! PRE5+ SOCIAL CAPITALI/ :O LOVES TO MANIPULATE ?R\< EMOTION & F]V5TLY BELIEVES ?AT !RE >E -- OR %\LD BE -- LIMITS TO REASON & CONSID]ATION4 

,! MOM5T ANY CON/ANCY OR /RUCTURE IS ADMITT$ TO BE F\ND 9 ! WORLD ! GAME ( VALUE-NIHILISM BECOMES UNSALVAGEABLE4 ,IF RADICALISM -- 9TELLECTUAL VIGILANCE -- IS REMOTELY COH]5T & EFFICACI\S1 !N IT BECOMES EM]G5T FROM C>+4 ,ONE HAS DESIRES & SO ONE PUTS 9 9TELLECTUAL CONSID]ATION TO SATIATE !M4 ,NEW DISCOV]IES PROPAGATE UPDATES TO ONE'S MOTIVAT+ DESIRES1 & ONE GR[S TO RECOGNIZE MORE JU/ H[ CRITICAL HAV+ A BETT] MAP ( ! WORLD'S /RUCTURE IS4 ,ONE'S 5DLESS ONTOLOGICAL UPDATE CRISES GRADUALLY DISSOLVE ANY EXT5D$ RIGID S5SE ( SELF4 ,A RUNAWAY COMP\ND+ PROCESS HAPP5S & ALL O!R VALUES FALL AWAY TO RADICALISM ITSELF4 ,:AT DIFF]5T DISCURSIVE TRADITIONS T]M VIGILANCE1 EPI/EMIC RATIONALITY1 CONSCI\SNESS1 & EV5 FRE$OM4 ,! /ORM ( RECURSION & META-COGNITION ?AT GIVES US 'AG5CY'4 

,N[ ONE CAN GET 9TO A HUGE CONV]SATION AB\T ! OCCASIONAL OPTIMALITY ( IRRATIONAL_/NON?9K+ /RATEGIES OR HABITS )9 C]TA9 LOCAL CONTEXTS1 & ONE CAN ALSO CLAIM ?AT !RE >E O!R EM]G5T DESIRES_/VALUES4 ,I DO NOT WANT TO BELABOR ! PO9T TOO F> BY >GU+ SPECIFIC /RUCTURES4 ,! TAKEAWAY IS MORE IMPORTANT ?AN ANY P>TICUL>S3 WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE !RE IS SOME /RUCTURE TO ! SPACE ( POSSIBLE VALUES4 ,AFT] ALL1 IT W\LD BE A /RANGE & UNUSUAL R&OM NETWORK ?AT WAS P]FECTLY SYMMETRICAL1 ) NO UNIQUE ATTRACTORS OR FL[S4 ,:Y %\LD REALITY BE SO P]FECTLY ORD]$ AS TO BE PRECISELY MEAN+LESS8 

,!RE IS NO PRO( ?AT ! ASYMPTOTIC 5DPO9T ( 9QUIRY IMPLIES A P]FECT SYMMETRY BETWE5 VALUES4 ,!RE IS NO PROV5 NIHILI/ ABYSS1 M]ELY A PHANTASMAL MY? ( ONE4 ,SIMIL>LY :AT DOES IT MATT] :]E \R PROMPTS = 9QUIRY ORIG9ATE1 OR :AT PRECISE HI/ORICAL CRUFT CAME ATT5DANT8 ,ONE C\LD POSIT 9F9ITE O!R />T+ PO9TS -- ! /RUCTURAL DYNAMICS G5]AT+ CONV]G5CES 9 \R META-DESIRES >E BROAD] ?AN A PRECISE HI/ORICAL PA?4 ,TO REJECT ?IS IS ! SAME AS TO REJECT+ ALL 9DUCTION4 ,AGA93 VALUE NIHILISM IS 9H]5TLY DEP5D5T UPON EPI/EMOLOGICAL NIHILISM4 

,H[ W\LD ANYONE S9C]ELY >RIVE AT ! 'CONCLUSION' ( NIHILISM8 ,H[ HAS ?IS EV5 BE5 A ?+8 ,ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM IS C]TA9LY WIDESPREAD BUT IT'S NOT LIKE !RE >E LOADS ( PEOPLE :O TAKE IT TO ! PO9T ( OP5LY IDEOLOGICALLY WOR%IP+ ! ABOLITION ( CONSCI\SNESS4 ,SU* ABSURDITIES CLE>LY ONLY EM]GE DEF5SIVELY4 

,A LOT HAS BE5 SAID AB\T ! 9SEP>ABILITY ( NIHILISM FROM ! CONTEXT ( ,*RI/IANITY1 9H]IT+ ITS FRAMEWORKS & PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS EV5 :ILE IT ATTEMPTS TO REBEL -- = EXAMPLE TOTALLY FAIL+ TO EV5 CONCEIVE ( ANY NOTION ( 0E?ICS0 OR \<T OR 0MEAN+0 ?AT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE DIV9E COMM&4 ,& S9CE OBVI\SLY1 NO1 WE'RE NOT GO+ TO F9D ANY GIANT FLAM+ LETT]S ON ! SIDE ( A CLIFF TELL+ US ',I ORD] Y\ TO DO SU* & SU*1 Y\R PURPOSE %\LD BE ?IS'1 ?OSE :O HAVE NEV] IMAG9$ ANY?+ BEYOND MU/ SURELY FEEL SOME V]TIGO UPON REALIZ+ ?IS4 ,9TELLECTUALLY MALN\RI%$1 ?OSE RAIS$ )9 SU* BL9D]S NATURALLY T5D TO RESPOND BY SEEK+ SOME NEW %ALL[ BUT IMM$IATELY GRASPABLE C]TA9TY TO FILL ! PLACE ,GOD ONCE OCCUPI$3 ALL VALUES >E >BITR>Y6 ,?IS TOO IS SIMPLE & /RAI<T=W>D & HELPS SALVE ! PANIC ( UNC]TA9TY1 ASSUAGES ! PRESSURE TO DO ! H>D WORK ( 9VE/IGATION & EXPLORATION4 

,9 ! CASE ( ?OSE WORK+ FROM ! MO/ MORIBUND TRADITIONS ( PHILOSOPHY ! :OLE AFFAIR (T5 9H]ITS A /RANGE & FALSE NOTION ( 0:AT MEAN+ IS0 & H[ IT >ISES4 ,IT'S AN ALMO/ CLASSICAL WE/]N MI/AKE -- A T5D5CY TO ?9K 9 T]MS ( A FIR/-ORD] UND]/&+ ( L+UI/IC CLAIMS RA!R ?AN 9 T]MS ( PATT]NS ( RELATIONS4 ,! NE$ = SOME K9D ( />T+ PO9T1 SOME UR-AXIOM1 DIRECTLY /ATEABLE 9 LANGUAGE1 ?AT IS P]FECTLY TRUE1 & UNIV]SALLY SELF-EVID5T 9 A TOTALLY UNASSAILABLE WAY4 ,SURE Y\'RE NOT GO+ TO F9D ?AT1 AT LEA/ AT FIR/-ORD] -- ALL LANGUAGE IS A CONT+5T NETWORK -- BUT Y\ CAN NEV]!LESS F9D EM]G5T PATT]NS OR META-FL[S )9 ?AT NETWORK4 ,IS ?IS 0TRU?08 ,C5TURIES ( PHILOSOPH]S GO+ ON TANG5TIAL QUIBBLES HAVE %[N ! T]M TO PROVIDE AN UN$IFY+ FRAME4 ,9DE$ ! USE ( SU* A WORD1 0TRU?01 SEEMS PRONE TO ! DISCRETIZ+ T5D5CIES ( HUMAN LANGUAGE 9 A P>TICUL>LY SEV]E ALL-OR-NO?+ WAY4 

,BUT ( C\RSE ?AT'S ! :OLE GAME4 ,NIHILISM LIVES ON ! OV]-SIMPLIFY+ ( DEPRESS$ M9DS 9 RETREAT4 ,!RE'S A DEEP REASON ! PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPT ( 0NIHILISM0 HAS BECOME 9 MU* COMMON P>LANCE A M]E /&-9 = 0DESPAIR04 ,JU/ BECAUSE ! MODEL Y\ W]E WORK+ FROM TURNS \T TO BE WRONG DOESN'T MEAN !RE IS NO BETT] MODEL TO BE F\ND4 ,YET DEPRESSION HAS AN 9T]E/+ EFFECT ON H[ WE P]=M 9DUCTION OR PATT]N-RECOGNITION4 ,IT %R9KS ! SCOPE ( \R ATT5TION & WORK+ MEMORY & DEMOLI%ES ! DYNAMIC COMPLEXITY ( \R PICTURE ( ! WORLD1 SO WE'RE R$UC$ TO COMP>+ BETWE5 ONLY V]Y SIMPLE MODELS1 (T5 AT A LEVEL ( AB/RACTION :]E SIMPLICITY 9 EXPLANATION IS UNREASONABLE4 ,:ITTL$ D[N TO !SE FEW REMA9+ EXPLANATIONS SOME P>TICUL>LY SIMPLE & DIRE ONES SEEM 9CONTE/ABLE4 0,I'M A LOS]10 0NO?+ CAN BE DONE10 ?AT K9D ( ?+4 ,SUP]FICIAL AB/RACTIONS PAP]+ OV] RI* UND]LY+ DYNAMICS 9TO A %ORT N>RATIVE4 ,EV]Y S+LE PIECE ( DATA 9 \R LIVES1 EV]Y EXP]I5CE CAN BE FUNNEL$ ?R\< ?IS L5S1 & IT (T5 DOES BETT] ?AN ANY ( ! O!R SUP]FICIAL ALT]NATIVE EXPLANATIONS WE1 9 \R DESPAIR1 HAVE ! M5TAL CAPACITY TO CONJURE1 & SO WE TRACE OV] IT1 +RA9+ IT AGA9 & AGA94 

,9 ?IS SAME VE9 ! (T5 ATT5DANT NIHILI/ 0CRITIQUES0 ( HOPE >E ALWAYS TRIVIAL AFFAIRS1 TILT+ AT /RAWM54 

,:AT W\LD IT MATT] IF ! PROBABILITY ( GOOD ?+S WAS V]Y L[8 ,H[ W\LD ?AT NECESS>ILY *ANGE ANY?+ AB\T \R VALUES1 GOALS1 OR MOTIVATIONS8 ,HOPE & DESPAIR >E M]E PSY*OLOGICAL AFFECTS1 FRAMES ( M9D OR EMOTION WE CAN ALWAYS *OOSE TO ADOPT EI!R ( 9 ANY SITUATION4 ,NO?+ IS EV] KN[N ) LIT]AL #a.0 C]TA9TY & ?US !RE'S ALWAYS C\RS+ VE9S ( POSSIBILITIES ?AT CAN BE F]RET$ \T4 ,SOMETIMES IT'S /RATEGIC TO />T \T ?9K+ AB\T WAYS WE C\LD W91 O!R TIMES IT'S /RATEGIC TO />T \T ?9K+ AB\T WAYS WE C\LD LOSE4 ,!SE >E JU/ DIFF]+ SE>* ALGORI?MS4 ,ANYONE ) A LITTLE SELF-KN[L$GE & FRE$OM TO REFLECT CAN *OOSE TO SWIT* BETWE5 !M AS NE$ BE4 ,BO?1 ( C\RSE1 CAN HAVE !IR FAILURE MODES -- OV]CONFID5T LIMIT$ SCOPE OR LI/LESS UNIMAG9ATIV5ESS -- BUT SO :AT4 ,Y\ CAN HAM-FI/ ANY /RATEGY4 

,9 ! LAZIE/ MO/ G5]IC S5SE1 0NIHILISM01 (T5 JU/ SIGNIFIES A K9D ( ,P,T,S,D FROM MAL=M$ EXP]IM5TS ) HOPE4 ,BUT 9 P>TICUL>1 A RIDICUL\S K9D ( HOPE ?AT'S NOT A =W>D-SE>*+ ( POSSIBILITY BUT JU/ A FALSE-C]TA9TY3 MOTIVAT+ Y\RSELF BY DELUSIONS ( ASSUR$ VICTORY4 

,CONSID] JU/ H[ WEIRD IT IS ?AT ANYONE W\LD EV] NE$ TO BE ASSUR$ ( VICTORY TO PURSUE C]TA9 ?+S4 ,SU* A NE$ BETRAYS ?AT ! 5DS S\<T >E NOT BE+ VALU$ 9-&-(-!MSELVES4 ,IF A REVOLUTION IS ! ONLY WAY TO A*IEVE FRE$OM & Y\ VALUE FRE$OM !N Y\ WILL OBVI\SLY PURSUE IT NO MATT] H[ M>G9AL Y\R *ANCE ( SUCCESS4 ,BUT IF :AT Y\ REALLY VALUE ISN'T FRE$OM BUT SOME?+ ELSE OR SOME O!R BUNDLE ( ?+S ?AT MI<T BE SATIAT$ SOME O!R WAY -- IF FRE$OM = Y\ IS ONLY ANO!R MEANS TO ?OSE 5DS RA!R ?AN AN 5D 9 ITSELF -- !N ! UNLIKEL9ESS ( REVOLUTION>Y VICTORY IS RELEVANT4 7,?IS IS NO D\BT :Y ! W\LD-BE-COMMISS>S ( ,M>XISM RANT$ SO MU* AB\T ! 9EVITABILITY ( !IR VICTORY4 ,)\T SU* C]TA9TY !Y W\LD HAVE RESORT$ TO SEEK+ QUITE DIFF]5T PA?S TO ! P[] & PRIVILEGE !Y REALLY DESIR$47 

,HAV+ OV]REA*$ BY CONV9C+ !MSELVES ?AT VICTORY WAS ASSUR$ !RE'S AN IMPULSE TO C\RSE-CORRECT 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION4 ,?IS AVOIDS ANY DEEP PROB+ QUE/IONS ( ONE'S VALUES1 !IR DEP5D5CIES1 PRIMACY & WEI<T+S4 ,FOLL[+ ! SAME EXAMPLE AS BE=E1 IF FRE$OM IS TAK5 TO BE \TRI<T IMPOSSIBLE -- RA!R ?AN M]ELY UNLIKELY TO BE A*IEV$ -- !N IT W\LD BE 9COH]5T TO CONT9UE TO VALUE IT4 ,) SU* A MOVE ONE IS SAV$ FROM A TRUE ACC\NT+ ( ONE'S MOTIVATIONS4 

,?AT ?IS IS LAZY AS FUCK IS ! :OLE GAME4 

,SU* 'NIHILISM' LEADS ONE TO ASSIGN LIT]ALLY Z]O LIKELIHOOD TO EV5TS RA!R ?AN A SMALL P]C5TAGE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY JU/ AN 5UNCIATION ( DEPRESSION4 ,A K9D ( IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ( OV]-SIMPLIFICATION TO WRAP COM=T+LY >\ND COLLAPS+ M5TAL HEAL?4 

,IT HAS BE5 WIDELY SAID 9 V>I\S WAYS ?AT 0!RE'S NO PO9T 9 DEBAT+ NIHILISM1 ALL Y\ CAN DO IS PROVIDE !RAPY0 & ?IS FOLK 'NIHILISM' ?AT DEF9ES ITSELF 9 CONTRA/ ) 'HOPE' SEEMS TO L5D ?AT CR$5CE4 ,NOT A PHILOSOPHICAL >GUM5T OR POSITION SO MU* AS A PSY*OLOGICAL ONE4 ,A /ATE ( FEELS4 ,WE MI<T !N VIEW SU* 'NIHILISM' 9 SOME?+ LIKE SOCIOLOGICAL T]MS ALONE1 AS AN AFFECTIVE /ATE ?AT CAUSES PEOPLE TO CLU/] TOGE!R UNTIL TRIBAL EFFECTS TAKE OV]1 PROMOT+ V>I\S 9CANTATIONS ?AT RE9=CE ?IS %>$ BOND+ EXP]I5CE4 ,!RE'S A K9D ( RELIEF 9 ?IS EVALUATION3 ,?AT ! 9CANTATIONS ( ?IS 'NIHILISM' DON'T WORK AS RIGOR\S OR RADICAL PHILOSOPHY MI<T SIMPLY BE TO READ !M 9 ! WRONG CONTEXT4 

,YET ?IS IS PROBABLY A BIT TOO OPTIMI/IC4 

,SURE1 !RE'S UND\BT$LY SOME S5SE 9 :I* MANY CASUALLY PR(ESS$ 'NIHILI/S' >E JU/ FADDI% FA%IONI/AS ( DEPRESSION = :OM ! PHILOSOPHICAL >GUM5TS ! SP\T >E ONLY SO MU* FLAK4 ,BUT SIMIL> IS (T5 TRUE = MANY PHILOSOPHIES4 ,IT W\LD BE A MI/AKE TO ASSUME ?AT BECAUSE PROM95T NUMB]S DO NOT TAKE A PHILOSOPHY !Y REPRES5T S]I\SLY !RE= NO ONE DOES4 ,OR ?AT ! IDEOLOGY ITSELF HAS NO BITE 9 PRACTICE4 

,NIHILISM1 AS WE'VE SE51 IS 9 EV]Y 9C>NATION A PHILOSOPHY ( ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM4 ,FROM ! PREEMPTIVE DISMISSAL ( ANY 9QUIRY FUR!R 9TO \R MODELS OR VALUES1 TO QUIXOTIC REQUE/S ?AT WE HOLD NO /RUCTURE 9 \R M9DS1 TO FETI%IZ$ DEPRESSION4 ,NIHILISM CAN OP]ATE SPECIFIC TO SOME LOCALE OR FLAVOR ( ?\<T1 BUT :AT'S COMMON ACROSS ALL !SE P]MUTATIONS IS A P5*ANT = OV]-SIMPLIFICATION -- A SE>* = EXCUSES TO F5D (F 9TELLECTUAL VIGILANCE & ! PA9S ?AT SOMETIMES ACCOMPANY4 ,NIHILISM IS A /AUN* FAI? 9 !RE BE+ NO REASON TO ?9K FUR!R4 ,! V>I\S >GUM5TS = :Y >E NOT SUPPORT SO MU* AS W9D[ DRAP+4 

,& ( ALL IDEOLOGIES 'NIHILISM' IS ONE ( ! MO/ WIDESPREAD4 ,IT HAS SE5 9CR$IBLE SUCCESS & WIDESPREAD M5TION4 ,& NO WOND]1 IT'S A /RIPP$ D[N & MORE DIRECTLY EXPOS$ V]SION ( :AT WAS AT ! HE>T ( SO MANY O!R RELIGIONS & IDEOLOGIES4 ,?9K+ FUR!R1 ?9K+ SY/EMICALLY1 RIGOR\SLY1 DEEPLY -- ?9K+ RADICALLY -- IS A WA/E ( TIME4 

,ONE NE$ NOT LOOK LONG = :AT 5DS SU* A T5D5CY S]VES4 ,! NEGATION ( RADICAL 9QUIRY HAS ALWAYS BE5 REACTION4 

,! PURE/ NIHILI/S >E RAPACI\S /OCK M>KET BROS & CASUAL G5OCIDAIRES4 ,RAPI/S & ABUS]S4 ,EV]Y 9ANE G>D5 V>IETY SOCIOPA? IS A NIHILI/ BY NATURE4 ,& P]HAPS WE MI<T ALSO C\NT ! SUICIDES & A SPATT]+ ( ?OSE H>D5$ MISAN?ROPES :O >E FILL$ ) A NE$ TO SNUFF \T ALL ! NOISE1 COLOR1 & COMPLEXITY ( A WORLD FILL$ ) ?\<T & AG5CY4 

,NIHILISM SUFFUSES US4 ,IT SMO!RS \R WORLD1 PROPP+ UP DECAY+ /RUCTURES & VALUES LEFT & RI<T4 

,IT IS NOT AN ACID OR AN ABYSS1 CAPABLE ( DEV\R+ ANY?+4 ,RA!R1 NIHILISM IS ! /RONGE/ GLUE !RE IS -- AN EMBRACE ( CONTRADICTION1 A SELF-DI/RACTION1 A REFUSAL TO SY/EMATICALLY REFLECT -- A GLUE CAPABLE ( HOLD+ TOGE!R ABSURDITIES ?R\< PREEMPTIVE /RIKES AGA9/ COGNITION ITSELF4 ,?IS GLUE HAS HI/ORICALLY HELD FA/ 5TIRE EMPIRES & *UR*ES4 ,ITS PURE/ & MO/ FLAGRANT EXPRESSION BE+ ! ,FASCI/S :O W]E HAPPY TO HUG CONTRADICTIONS :5 !Y W]E USEFUL 9 PURSU+ DROLL & BE/IAL DESIRES4 ,= ! NIHILI/ OR FASCI/ ANY ALL[$ 9TELLECTUALISM IS ALWAYS A DEF5SIVE MOVE4 ,AN 'E?ICAL' APPEAL TODAY1 ITS NEGATION TOMORR[1 :ATEV] S]VES !IR %ALL[ 5DS4 ,!ORY IS ONLY TOL]AT$ 9S(> AS IT S]VES ONE'S AIMS1 IT IS NEV] ALL[$ TO SURPRISE & *ALL5GE4 ,S9C]E 9QUIRY IS 5TIRELY ALI54 

,9TO ?IS NIHILI/ WORLD HAVE L\DLY >RIV$ A FEW JOHNNY-COME-LATELYS1 TODAY A H&FUL ( ACADEMICS & PUNKS :O'VE BE5 CODDL$ BY LIB]ALISM & ACADEMIA1 & :O ?US SOMEH[ EXP]I5CE ! NOTION ( NIHILISM AS A NOVELTY RA!R ?AN -- AS = ! RE/ ( US -- ! ALL-TOO-EV]-PRES5T & NOXI\S IDEOLOGY BEH9D ! CRUEL GR9S ( ALL ! ABUS]S WE'VE EV] FAC$4 ,!SE JOK]S >RIVE TOO LATE 9 !IR LIVES TO BE ANY GOOD AT NIHILISM1 HAV+ BE5 LONG \TPAC$ BY ! MILLIONS ( SOCIOPA?S NATIVE TO IT1 & ALL !Y CAN REALLY USE IT = IS TO F5D (F ANY PESKY 9T]SECTIONS ) !IR CONSCI5CE OR S]I\S 9TELLECTUAL 5GAGEM5T 9 POT5TIALLY IMPACTFUL DIRECTIONS4 ,9/EAD !Y *OOSE TO SPIRAL \T 9 P]=MATIVE DISPLAYS4 ,ONE CAN 9T]ROGATE ! FULL CONTEXT & CONT5T ( !IR PRON\NCEM5TS1 ! MO/ POPUL> CURR5TS1 ! PEOPLE BEH9D !M1 & :AT VALUES OR ORI5TATIONS NE$ SU* CLOAK+ AS TO W>RANT A DEF5SIVE MOVE AS PU]ILE AS NIHILISM4 ,9 ! SPECIFIC CASE ( ! AN>*I/ MILIEU 9 REC5T YE>S ! OBVI\S ANSW] IS A CONFLU5CE ( BURN\T & CONSCI5CELESS SOCIAL CAPITALISM1 BUT H]E WE F9D IT H>D NOT TO TR5D A TAD MORE BIT+1 O!R AU?ORS HAVE ALREADY COV]$ ?IS T]RITORY1 & ,I'D PREF] TO LEAVE MY F> MORE VICI\S ?\<TS ON !M TO SEP>ATE ESSAYS ADDRESS+ SPECIFIC CURR5TS4 

,:AT'S IMPORTANT & 9DEP5D5T ( SU* LOCAL P]MUTATIONS1 IS ! *>ACT] ( NIHILISM4 ,:AT !Y *ANNEL SO GLIBLY IS NOT NEUTRAL1 IT HAS 9TR9SIC AFFILIATIONS & AIMS4 

,:E!R UNCONSCI\S OR CONSCI\S1 NIHILISM S]VES AS A DEF5SIVE *AFF ?R[N UP BY FOLKS :O VALUE C]TA9 ?+S & DON'T WANT TO RISK EI!R EXPOS+ ?OSE VALUES OR HAV+ !M *ANGE4 ,EXPLICIT & VOCAL NIHILISM IS A K9D ( D\BL+ D[N3 ,GLEEFULLY EMBRAC+ CONTRADICTION 5ABLES BO? HID+ :AT IS REALLY MEANT FROM SCRUT9Y & ]ECT+ B>RI]S TO LEGIBILITY AS A WAY ( RE9=C+ SOCIAL HI]>*IES ( ACCESS4 ,AT ! SAME TIME ?AT NIHILISM USES ! >BITR>Y COMPLEXITY ( 9COH]5CE TO DI/RACT IT ALSO EXCUSES A %R9K+ ( ONE'S ATT5TION1 A COLLAPS+ ( ONE'S DESIRES & MODELS ( ! WORLD1 FROM ! MORE COMPLEX TO ! MORE IMM$IATE4 ,UNTIL ONE M]ELY REACTS1 AS MI<T A KICK$ ROCK1 RA!R ?AN REFLECT+ & *OOS+4 

,NIHILISM IS DEA?4 ,! ]OSION ( AG5CY & *OICE4 ,A ROT ?AT REPLACES ! LIV+1 SE>*+1 FEEL+ ( ! M9D ) DISCONNECT & FOSSILIZATION4 ,IT SEV]S ONE'S L9ES ( 5GAGEM5T1 HELPS SUPPORT WALLS TO F5D (F ! \TSIDE WORLD4 ,9 ?IS S5SE IT P]HAPS P]FECTLY A*IEVES ! P]V]SE NOTION ( NEGATIVE FRE$OM1 OR FRE$OM-FROM4 ,IT PROVIDES A P]FECT SORT ( PICKL+ :]E-ONE-/&S4 ,PRES]V+ SOME DI/ORT$ SEMBLANCE ( LIFE1 ALBEIT /ILL & TRAPP$1 AT LEA/ UNTIL ! BOTTLE F9ALLY BREAKS & ONE'S SUSP5D$ CORPSE IS RELEAS$ TO ROT4 ,?IS MAY CON/ITUTE SOME SORT ( 'DEF5SE'1 BUT ONLY ?AT4 

,NIHILISM IS 9CAPABLE ( REAL DE/RUCTION JU/ AS IT REFUSES TO 5GAGE 9 CREATION4 ,9 ! 5D IT S]VES ONLY TO PRES]VE :AT EXI/S4 ,ITS RETREAT FROM /RUCTURE TO 9DIFF]5CE BLURS ! WORLD 9TO A =MLESS S+LE GRAY1 BL9D+ US 5TIRELY FROM POSSIBILITY4 ,TO *ANGE ?+S1 TO ACT1 TO HAVE *OICE1 IS 9H]5TLY TO REFLECT1 TO PRESS AGA9/ ! WORLD1 TAKE 9 ITS TEXTURE & /RUCTURE1 & TO BUILD UPON ?AT4 ,TO BE FREE -- 9 A POSITIVE S5SE ( FRE$OM-TO -- IS FIR/ & =EMO/ TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE & TRACE ! NETWORK ( :AT IS POSSIBLE4 ,FRE$OM REQUIRES 5GAG+ ) POSSIBILITY1 NIHILISM D5IES IT4 ,9 NIHILISM'S IDEOLOGICAL REJECTION ( RADICAL 9QUIRY -- ITS BL9D FAI? ?AT FUR!R ?\<T WILL ULTIMATELY REVEAL NO?+ BUT 5DLESS =MLESS GRAY -- IT ULTIMATELY SEEKS TO SUPPRESS ALL LIV+ MOTION 9 \R M9DS & ?US 9 ! WORLD4 

,IT IS ?US )\T POLEMIC BUT ) SOLEMNITY ?AT WE MU/ CONCLUDE3 

,NIHILISM IS1 9 ! F9AL ACC\NT+1 FASCISM4 ,BO? ITS NECESS>Y SE$ & ITS MO/ PURIFI$ EXPRESSION4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,NIHILISM3 ,A ,LIE ,9 ,S]VICE ,TO ,! ,EXI/+ -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,NIHILISM3 ,A ,LIE ,9 ,S]VICE ,TO ,! ,EXI/+ -- ,UPDAT$4 

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