this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
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Memes of Production
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I've usually seen it defined as meaning you believe that life had no "meaning" or objective purpose. In that sense, you could absolutely be a nihilist and also strongly stand for something, so long as the internal justification for your conviction wasn't based on it being somehow objectively correct, just a strong personal liking for that position. Sort of like, "the universe might not care, but I do."
"Nothing matters" isn't a position that demands, well any kind of ideology or behavior, because self indulgence or apathy are just as meaningless in a meaningless universe as following some arbitrary and self-assigned code to the bitter end would be.
The reasons for why you care are your beliefs though. Also, objectively correct? In this world there's only uncertainty (beginning at the lowest levels of reality!) and axioms, when you stand for something (like "thou shalt not kill", for instance) you don't stand for it because it logically follows, because ought doesn't follow from is (stances are informed by reality but not their causes, both a righteous victic or a well informed ally of American imperialism and Henry Kissinger knew exactly the reality on the ground, one cares and the other doesn't), you stand for it because it's right. It becomes axiomatic, but "objectively correct" or "objectively true"... those are things only God knows.
Sorry, I wasn't arguing with you, I just wanted to expand on things. You're right, people do often go by that definition.