Does anything TRULY matter

Updated on March 21, 2022 in Meaning of Life
6 on December 29, 2021

mmmhhh, I have a feeling that this won’t go over well. If someone can explain to me that even though the universe will explode and no human life will existence, why does anything I do matter in the overall scheme of things? Also please no bashing on anyone’s beliefs or anything, that wasn’t the point of this.  

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2 on January 11, 2022

Hi, I hope you like this response.

What you’re expressing is something close to philosophical nihilism. The belief that in the grand scheme of things, nothing we transient beings can ever do is ultimately meaningful.

My argument is two parted.

First, if we accept nihilism to be true, which seems to be the case objectively, then your outlook is obviously correct. Honestly, in my opinion, cosmic nihilism seems to be an objective truth. Heat death of the universe over time seems likely. However, this doesn’t mean that this has to be a reason not to do things.

The way I interpret cosmic nihilism is derivative of what I’ve learned from playing ranked video games, so bear with this analogy.

Second, if we are playing a zero sum game, that results in us losing every time, what is left over in the middle? You can play ranked games, trying to be top tier, and find yourself in the middle, but at least you played. Now, no judgment on opting out, although this is an argument to make opting out of the game of life temporary, you can either play the game in front of you for the ride, or end it.

I would say, it is already predestined to end, so why not play it out until then. There are extreme cases in which (say death over needlessly long torture) you are justified in ending it all, but I would recommend a break from life for most people.

It can seem hopeless, but baseline is baseline. People are really out here homeless making shit work. If you need to sulk, sulk. And then play the game in front of you. But don’t let fear of losing stop you from playing because the odds are that if you play at least decently well (at least in america), you will be okay.

on February 5, 2022

Hey it’s been a hot minute lol, but anyway I interpreted this as cosmic nihilism is likely correct considering the knowledge we have today but if living or dying has no bearing then might as well “play the game”, which is fair. Doesn’t really bring meaning into life just a reason not to die, hopefully that makes sense. 

on February 5, 2022

Oh yeah. To put it simply, I believe that objective meaning doesn’t exist, but subjective meaning does. However a lot of people would say subjective meaning isn’t actual meaning

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0 on March 20, 2022

In the bigger scheme of things, there is no such thing as “truly” matter. However, since each of us lives in our own world, which is comparatively smaller to the bigger universe, to us somethings may matter that may see molecular in the face of the entire universe. So without giving us a proportionate comparison of existence and the universe, nothing to you truly matters however perhaps the destruction of Earth may matter, of course, this response is interpreted with the belief that there is no other substantial life in this universe, meaning that what matters is only from the perception of humans.

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0 on March 21, 2022

This subject really goes back to ethics and what you perceive as worthy to be working towards. Those who follow religion find their divine’s rules and aspirations to be working towards while others find meaning in the actions and hobbies they most enjoy. From a technical point of view similarly to how Pickpocket explained, nothing really matters in this small speck of the universe. There are bound to be millions of better people than you that you have no chance to catch up to and really the whole system of this world is pointless. No one will really achieve anything when the world ends. Every being on this earth will face death and sorrow so all you can really do in the time you have is enjoy your gifts and appreciate those you care for.

Going back to my ethics point, people find reason in their life through their beliefs. In a utilitarianist point of view, someone would find that their goal in life is to raise the happiness of those around them but in a contrasting view of Natural Law Theory, followers believe that ‘God’ has laid out a specific path of interests and goals for them to complete and follow.

Thanks for reading my ramble lmao.

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0 on March 21, 2022

This subject really goes back to ethics and what you perceive as worthy to be working towards. Those who follow religion find their divine’s rules and aspirations to be working towards while others find meaning in the actions and hobbies they most enjoy. From a technical point of view similarly to how Pickpocket explained, nothing really matters in this small speck of the universe. There are bound to be millions of better people than you that you have no chance to catch up to and really the whole system of this world is pointless. No one will really achieve anything when the world ends. Every being on this earth will face death and sorrow so all you can really do in the time you have is enjoy your gifts and appreciate those you care for.

Going back to my ethics point, people find reason in their life through their beliefs. In a utilitarianist point of view, someone would find that their goal in life is to raise the happiness of those around them but in a contrasting view of Natural Law Theory, followers believe that ‘God’ has laid out a specific path of interests and goals for them to complete and follow.

Thanks for reading my ramble lmao.

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