Essay: on -isms

Existentialism, as defined by Merriam-Webster

“a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines, but centering on an analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.”

Nihilism, as defined by Merriam-Webster

1- “a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless”

2- “a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake, independent of any constructive program or possibility”

When I think about society today I recognize and acknowledge the conflict and heavy cloud that hangs over it. When I consider politics, I wonder which side holds the true nihilists—could it be the Democratic Socialists, fed up with ineptitude and shocking lack of change? Is it the Demon Pumpkin faction of Republicans, actively dismantling democracy as it was known?

People deserve to be treated better. But will anything short of a revolution be effective in bringing about change? I am struggling to find hope in a world, a society, where nihilism is not the predominant philosophy.

I find myself stuck in an existential plight as of late. The universe is unknowable. What say do I have? What claim do I have to deem things right or wrong? Are all professionals existentialists? Must one be an existential psychopath to succeed in the business world? To be honest, I’ve quietly been stockpiling evidence to support the psychopath success theory, but I also have to acknowledge my own confirmation bias. I wonder if my evidence is tainted to skew in favor of my own theory, desperate for validation. Are we all just biased lawyers of our own preconceived notions and viewpoints, trying to convince everyone else of our personal truths? In this world are all of our opinions valid without ever being RIGHT?!

The thought of a world without right and wrong feels so abhorrent to me. Yet I feel such a yearning towards the concept that I could, in fact, be empowered to be my own arbiter of these truths, these notions of right and wrong. A world in which everything is subjective, but yet somehow I could retain some control. In a backwards way, this version of existentialism appeals to me…