r/philosophy • u/Inalienist • 4d ago
Video Normative Nihilism
https://youtu.be/rNKGXYPEIn818
4d ago
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u/ChaoticJargon 4d ago
Ought being the operative word used to distinguish reason is the pin there. I sort of see this as an argument for complete freedom or boundlessness. Giving reason an ought binds the truth to something other than complete freedom.
The argument still considers 'truth' a thing, in itself, as in 'things exist' but gives no particular reason why.
To develop any argument requires reasoning, or a system of logic which dictates the flow of truth. The flow truth is a form of reason, it is its own ought. Which is why the paradox exists to begin with. How can truth not be a reason? The ought was invented, although all inventions have their uses. Truth is an assumption based on lived experience, it not that Truth doesn't exist, it is that we're limited in our capacity to determine Truth. Therefore, all arguments to determine Truth are based on some assumptions, and those assumptions about Truth can lead to useful insights.
What I can say then is that normative nihilism was invented, may have its uses, and therefore may be useful. However, other philosophical arguments have the same defining feature, which is, they make some assumptions and produce certain conclusions which may be useful. Therefore, whatever philosophy you want to invent will have its uses and those uses may be interesting. They may be far reaching, destructive, or otherwise minimal in their impact. That is my take away.
Normative nihilism offers one perspective upon which to view the world. So do other philosophical arguments. Truth has many forms, like looking at an object through many viewpoints. Each point of view will offer a new Truth to consider. Anyone claiming their arguments offer the only definitive picture of Truth certainly haven't reckoned with their own assumptions yet.
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u/ThinNeighborhood2276 4d ago
Could you clarify what you mean by "normative nihilism"? Are you referring to the rejection of all moral principles or something more specific?
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u/redsparks2025 4d ago
After watching the video it seems like Normative Nihilism is an argument on how to double down in one's support of Moral Nihilism. It certainly doesn't dumb down Moral Nihilism to help others understand why there are no objective morals. Sigh! Another philosophical rabbit hole.
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u/Inalienist 4d ago
According to normative nihilism, there is are no normative truths. So there are no reasons for actions and no reasons for belief. There is nothing you ought to do and nothing you ought to believe. This video outlines the "companions in guilt" argument from moral nihilism to normative nihilism.
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u/Shield_Lyger 3d ago
Thanks for this, but it really doesn't count as an abstract of the video. Would you mind posting a description of what the video is about, so that people don't have to watch it in order to understand what they're getting into?
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u/Inalienist 2d ago
The video basically shows that whatever is wrong with moral normative claims is also wrong with rational normative claims like reasons to believe or instrumental reasons and hypothetical reasons. This is a bitter pill for a nihilist to swallow.
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u/Shield_Lyger 2d ago
Okay, I'll bite... why? What's so difficult about the idea that there are no objective reasons for actions or beliefs? That doesn't stop anyone from acting or believing; it simply asks that they understand that their reasons are personal to themselves.
There seems to be a tendency to smuggle in the idea that only objective reasons for things are worth acting on, but that's not how human behavior works.
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u/Impossible_Horse_486 2d ago
This is like saying if you don't believe in the Loch Ness Monster then through the "companions in guilt" argument you shouldn't believe in Bigfoot.
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