What is 'cheerful nihilism,' the new outlook on life spreading among teenagers?


By

Simon Maage

Nihilism is a philosophical position that asserts that human existence has no meaning or intrinsic value. Nihilism is becoming popular again among teenagers, but this nihilism seems to be different from previous ones, according to a report by The Guardian, a major British general interest newspaper.

Sunny nihilism: 'Since discovering I'm worthless my life has felt precious' | Life and style | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/dec/18/sunny-nihilism-since-discovering-im-worthless-my-life-has-felt-precious

While Kierkegaard coined the early concept of nihilism, Nietzsche popularized it as a modern concept, and now, more than 100 years after Nietzsche's death, nihilism is showing signs of becoming popular again among teenagers.

However, the Guardian argues that the nihilism that is becoming popular today is different from the past, 'cheerful nihilism.' If traditional nihilism is something like, 'Nothing in life is important... What on earth is my life...,' then cheerful nihilism is something like, 'Nothing in life is important! So let's enjoy life!'




The Guardian argues that the trend of posting dangerous activities such as eating detergent or snorting condoms on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, which is widespread among teenagers, is promoting cheerful nihilism.

The 'condom challenge' in which people sniff condoms and then spit them out of their mouths is back in vogue, and experts warn it's dangerous - GIGAZINE



On the other hand, some young people are advocating for happiness through cheerful nihilism. Elias Skjoldborg, a sophomore at Harwood Union High School in Vermont, USA, is one of them. Skjoldborg gave a talk on cheerful nihilism at the school's TEDx conference.

Optimistic Nihilism | Elias Skjoldborg | TEDxHarwoodUnionHighSchool - YouTube


During his talk, Skjoldborg told the students, 'If you died now, nothing would change in the grand scheme of things. If you were never born, no one would notice.' However, what distinguishes his speech from traditional nihilism is that he continued, 'It's not sad that life has no meaning.' Skjoldborg argued, 'If our lives have no value, then the only thing we can do is find ways to find happiness in each moment of consciousness.'

At a TEDx event held at Kodaikanal International School in Kodaikanal, India, a young person gave a talk on optimistic nihilism. Siddharth Gupta, student council president at the school, said, 'My belief that life is meaningless led me to the idea that I have to find meaning in everything myself.'

Confessions of An Existential Nihilist | Siddharth Gupta | TEDxKodaikanalInternationalSchool - YouTube


Nihilism has traditionally been criticized for 'encouraging selfishness by leading people to pursue only personal happiness and pleasure.' However, The Guardian argues that the young people who delivered the message 'Let's be happy through cheerful nihilism' at TEDx 'rather become community-oriented as a result of cheerful nihilism.'

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in Education,   Video,   Note,   Posted by darkhorse_log