A Solution to Nihilism

By Leandro Castelluccio

Nihilism, understood as the negation of all value in existence, has become a specter haunting modern society. The feeling of emptiness, the loss of meaning in the world around us, and the perception that life lacks significance have gained ground in contemporary minds. This view is fueled by the belief that the absence of God, the omnipresence of suffering, the impermanence of things, or the idea that the world is merely the product of a mechanistic or random process eradicates any possibility of value.

However, this perspective is mistaken. Through various examples and arguments, we will see that life possesses intrinsic value, independent of any transcendent purpose. We will explore how things can hold meaning despite the possible absence of God, the reality of suffering, or the fleeting nature of existence. To do so, this essay will examine several key considerations that challenge these nihilistic assumptions, dismantling the notion that the value of life depends on external factors or absolute truths.

Although nihilist thought has gained prominence in modernity, its philosophical roots run deep. Friedrich Nietzsche, one of its most critical thinkers, warned in The Gay Science about the “death of God” and its consequences. For Nietzsche, the loss of transcendent values risked leading to existential emptiness. However, his response was not to abandon the notion of value but to overcome this void by creating new values.

Another common nihilist argument asserts that suffering is proof that life is devoid of value. Yet Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, demonstrates how even in the most horrific contexts—such as Nazi concentration camps—the value of existence persists through our attitude and subjective interpretation of reality. It is not suffering itself that defines the value of life but our response to it.

A further nihilist claim is that impermanence renders all things meaningless. If everything is destined to vanish, why should anything matter? However, Buddhist philosophy posits that impermanence is not a flaw in existence but its very essence—far from diminishing value, it intensifies it. Similarly, in The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus invites us to rebel against the absurd, to embrace life’s fleeting nature while still affirming its worth.

To transcend nihilism, we must undergo a fundamental shift in perspective—an awakening that allows us to recognize life’s inherent value without relying on absolute metaphysical certainties. This shift is not self-deception but an expansion of our awareness. Emotions, human relationships, art, and knowledge are all sources of meaning that depend on our active engagement. As developed in Martin Seligman’s positive psychology, human well-being is not dictated by an external, objective truth but by our perception and cultivation of meaningful experiences.

The solution to nihilism does not lie in a return to blind faith or the abandonment of critical thought but in a deeper recognition of our own capacities and the genuine value of our actions. There is no single answer to the problem of meaning, but there are pathways to discovering it. Ultimately, overcoming nihilism means recognizing that existence—whether the result of chance or necessity—is enriched through conscious experience and commitment to the world. Thus, far from being an insurmountable void, nihilism becomes an invitation to rediscover value from a renewed perspective.

 How to Recover and Defend the Value of Life and the World in the Absence of Meaning

The question of how to recover and defend the value of life without relying on a transcendent meaning has been addressed by numerous thinkers throughout history. While nihilism asserts that the absence of absolute meaning leads to the negation of value, various philosophical and psychological arguments demonstrate that life’s worth is not contingent upon external justification. On the contrary, value arises from the very experience of existence itself—from the cultivation of relationships, the enjoyment of art, the pursuit of knowledge, and an active engagement with the world.

The Value of Experience Despite Its Transience

A recurring argument in nihilism is that the impermanence of things diminishes their value. If something is destined to disappear, why should it matter? However, this idea is based on the mistaken assumption that permanence is a prerequisite for value. Buddhist philosophy, for instance, holds that transience not only fails to diminish the value of life but actually enhances it. As Thích Nhất Hạnh asserts, without impermanence, life itself would not be possible. The beauty of a sunset, the joy of a conversation, or a parent’s love for their child are not valuable despite their fleeting nature but precisely because of it.

Let us imagine the experience of having a child who, after only a few years of life, passes away. If we knew this outcome in advance, would we still choose to bring them into the world? My answer, at least, is yes. Because even though their departure is inevitable—just as it is for every mortal being—their existence remains an invaluable gift. The beauty and wonder of their life, however brief, fully justify the privilege of having known and loved them.

Thus, the example of having a child, knowing they will eventually die, illustrates this point. Even if we were aware of a child’s tragic fate, many would still choose to have them. The reason is that their existence, however short, brings immeasurable richness to life. Susan Wolf, in her book Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that life’s meaning does not depend on its duration or on a transcendent purpose but rather on the quality of our experiences and relationships. From this perspective, the love we give and receive, as well as the moments we share, serve as autonomous sources of meaning.

We may ask, however, what ultimately leads us to consider this worthy of value? Without delving too deeply into a point that is not central to this discussion, we might suggest that the enjoyment and reward of consciousness constitute the fundamental criterion for determining such value. The fact that this conscious experience of enjoyment is, in the end, a chance product of matter does not invalidate our ability to recognize and establish value; rather, it is an inherent part of existence and the very mechanism through which such value becomes evident to us. In this sense, every conception of value inevitably rests upon a final point, a fundamental criterion that underpins our judgment.

The reasoning that insists on dissolving all meaning unless it originates from a transcendent entity is nothing more than an expression of detachment from the profound meanings inherent in the world. These meanings do not reveal themselves solely through cold logic but through other forms of interaction with reality, through access to a kind of knowledge that transcends mere rational analysis. Logic alone is incapable of grasping the beauty of a poem or the grandeur of a symphony; such experiences demand a different mode of understanding.

Likewise, an excessively structured mode of reasoning, built upon superficial constructs and lifeless premises, tends to strip life of its grandeur, its joy, and its beauty—reducing it to a mere game of empty abstractions. This, in essence, is the conceptual prison against which traditions like contemplative science in Buddhism warn us. This point is of utmost importance: there is no intrinsic necessity, no a priori principle, dictating that life’s value fades simply because it emerged from chance.

Resilience as an Affirmation of Value

Another recurring argument in nihilism is that suffering invalidates the value of life. However, numerous thinkers have shown that suffering, far from nullifying the worth of existence, can serve as a path to strength and meaning. Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, recounts his experience in Nazi concentration camps and how, even in the most atrocious conditions, life could retain its intrinsic value. Frankl argues that everything can be taken from a person except one thing: the last of human freedoms—the ability to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances. This choice is precisely what allows us to reaffirm the value of life even in the face of pain.

Positive psychology has also explored this idea. Martin Seligman, one of its leading figures, asserts that human well-being does not depend on the absence of suffering but on the ability to find meaning in our experiences. His theory of flourishing proposes that elements such as engagement, positive relationships, and a sense of achievement are fundamental to a meaningful life. In this sense, the struggle against adversity and the ability to overcome it not only fail to diminish life’s value but, in fact, strengthen it.

The Creation of Values as a Response to Nihilism

Nietzsche, one of the greatest critics of nihilism, argued that the “death of God” marked the end of traditional values but not their complete annihilation. In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, he introduces the idea of the Übermensch—the individual capable of creating their own values in the absence of a transcendent meaning. For Nietzsche, passive nihilism, which resigns itself to the absence of meaning, must be overcome by active nihilism, which reinterprets reality and generates new values.

This idea was further developed by Jean-Paul Sartre, who, in his existentialist philosophy, asserted that “existence precedes essence.” In other words, we are not born with a predetermined meaning; rather, we are responsible for constructing it. Sartre considered human beings to be radically free, and this freedom entails the responsibility of shaping one’s own existence. From this perspective, the value of life is not something to be found outside ourselves but something we must actively create.

Science and Wonder as Sources of Value

From a scientific perspective, we can also find reasons to value existence. Carl Sagan, in Cosmos, highlights the wonder of being, reminding us that “we are a way for the universe to know itself.” Science reveals that life is an extraordinary, improbable, and fragile phenomenon, adding a sense of awe and responsibility toward it.

Evolutionary biology also offers a profound perspective. Richard Dawkins, in The Selfish Gene, emphasizes that life does not require a transcendent design to be meaningful. The beauty of evolution lies in its ability to generate diversity, complexity, and consciousness. Even if life is the result of an undirected process, its richness and depth invite us to appreciate and protect it.

The Value of Our Endeavors Despite Failure

Just as the value of life is not determined by its duration, the value of our actions is not contingent on their success. Personal or professional projects often fall short of expectations, but that does not mean they lack worth. Much like the example of having a child, our creative life projects remain incredibly valuable even if they do not reach the outcomes we envisioned—they are still worth pursuing.

Albert Camus, in The Myth of Sisyphus, presents the image of a man who, despite knowing that his task is absurd, continues to push the boulder uphill. Camus concludes that “we must imagine Sisyphus happy,” for it is in the very act of perseverance that meaning is found. Similarly, John Stuart Mill argues that human progress is not a linear path but a succession of advances and setbacks. In On Liberty, he asserts that the value of a person is measured by how many times they rise after falling. This implies that striving toward a goal, even if it is never fully achieved, remains valuable in itself.

In modern psychology, Angela Duckworth has developed the concept of grit, describing the combination of passion and perseverance as key to success and personal growth. Her research suggests that individuals who fail yet persist lead more meaningful lives than those who seek only immediate success.

The value of life and our actions is not dependent on permanence or success. Impermanence, suffering, and failure do not negate the significance of what we do; they enrich it. As Nietzsche, Camus, and Sartre teach us, the greatness of human beings lies in their ability to create meaning, to fight for their ideals, and to find value in the simple act of living and striving.

The Divine and the Value of Life

Consequently, even if God does not exist, life and what we do remain valuable. Does having a child and loving them lose its worth in the absence of God? In fact, the absence of a transcendent authority grants us the freedom to construct our own values, to decide what truly matters, and to take full responsibility for our existence. By recognizing that meaning is not something imposed but something we create through our experiences, life may acquire a deeper and more authentic significance.

For Sartre, the absence of inherent meaning is not a tragedy but an opportunity for self-determination. As we discussed earlier, Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed the death of God and saw in it the necessity of reevaluating all values—an endeavor that compels us to become creators of our own meaning and to appreciate existence beyond any transcendent purpose, finding value in life itself. Thus, life does not lose its worth in the absence of the divine; on the contrary, it becomes a work we must build with authenticity and commitment, one that we must not only cherish but fully embrace.

What do I mean by this? I believe that the existence of the divine makes the universe more fascinating. The world could very well be ordered by a creator God—a possibility that cannot be dismissed—but this does not invalidate the ideas outlined above, nor does it resolve the problem of nihilism. A truly wise and magnificent God must have created a world whose value stands on its own, independent of His presence.

We are losing touch with the divine, even in a secular sense. The divine is not merely a theological concept—it encompasses all that belongs to consciousness, all that integrates and enables experiences such as contemplation, beauty, love, passion, and joy. The absence of the divine in this broader sense signifies the erosion of value in all that is vital and meaningful in our relationship with the world.

This disconnection has been noted by philosophers like Martin Heidegger, who argued that modernity has distanced us from “being” due to an overly technical and utilitarian mindset. Similarly, Byung-Chul Han critiques contemporary society, pointing out that an excess of superficial stimuli and hyperproductivity erodes our capacity for contemplation, reducing our existence to mere functionality. This loss of a deeper sense of existence is not necessarily due to the absence of God but rather to the neglect of those experiences that connect us to the fullness of being, and potentially, to a transcendent divine order.

We often question meaning in the face of suffering. Many people turn to nihilism because they perceive a world filled with suffering, reinforcing the notion that there is no God to imbue existence with purpose and transcendence. However, as we have discussed, the beauty, passion, and joy that life offers are so profound and extraordinary that suffering and death become secondary—even if they are inevitable. Even if everything ultimately ends, life is still worth living. In this regard, as Viktor Frankl argues in Man’s Search for Meaning, even in the darkest moments, human beings can find purpose within suffering itself, transforming it into a source of growth and resilience.

Yet, one crucial but often overlooked point is that this perspective is difficult to grasp if we rely solely on cold rationality, without accessing deeper layers of understanding beyond the conceptual. Contemplation, the integration of emotions and passions, and other ways of connecting with the world—through beauty, art, poetry, literature, or our bond with nature—offer a more profound means of perceiving meaning.

This idea resonates with the philosophy of Simone Weil, who believed that a true understanding of the world could not be reduced to rationalist logic alone but required a state of deep, spiritual attention to reality. Similarly, Gaston Bachelard, in The Poetics of Space, highlights how imagination and poetic sensibility allow us to inhabit the world with greater depth.

It is no surprise, then, that in a world increasingly consumed by superficial and disposable content, we are losing our intuitive and profound grasp of beauty and value. Here, we can recall Walter Benjamin, who warned that the technical reproduction of art and culture leads to the loss of their aura—their ability to provoke an authentic experience. Our disconnection from the transcendent is not merely a metaphysical issue; it is a cultural crisis that distances us from what is essential.

Ultimately, reclaiming the value of life does not depend on the existence of God per se, but on our ability to perceive beauty, love, and depth in every moment.

Beyond Mediocrity: Nietzsche’s Call to Greatness

As a final reflection on this essay, I would like to highlight that Nietzsche would have looked with disdain upon contemporary life, shaped by mediocre values and an existence dictated by rigid and inauthentic structures—elements that, in my view, only exacerbate our nihilism and the cynical, depressive attitude toward modern life.

In his critique of slave morality, Nietzsche denounced a society that fosters conformity, obedience, and resignation instead of courage, greatness, and creativity. Modernity has chained individuals to a predictable cycle—school, work, retirement—without ever allowing them to become the true artists of their own lives. In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, he urges us to transcend herd mentality and forge an existence based on self-realization and the cultivation of excellence.

In contrast to this mediocrity, Nietzsche exalts a life dedicated to virtue, wisdom, knowledge, the arts, and beauty. The Übermensch, seen as a guiding ideal, is not merely someone who survives within the system but one who transcends established values and creates new ones, transforming life itself into a masterpiece. Art, poetry, and deep contemplation serve as pathways to a higher, more intense, and authentic existence. Yet contemporary society, ensnared by materialism and triviality, has abandoned this pursuit, surrendering instead to superficial consumption and the automation of existence.

Nietzsche’s challenge remains as urgent as ever: we must break free from imposed values, abandon the herd mentality, and dare to live with passion, intensity, and creativity. Only then can we reclaim greatness and make our lives truly worth living.

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