Why Nihilism Is Lazy and Harmful

"Legendary comedian Norm Macdonald, chronicling his longstanding addiction to gambling in his autobiography, recounted in it a moment in which his psychiatrist interpreted his fixation on gambling as a way "to escape reality," to which Norm astutely replied, "That's why everybody does everything." On the surface, that response is brilliant and obviously witty, but its nihilistic tenor misses something fundamental about human existence; it implies the false conclusion that meaning is little more than filling an existential void, for which there's no real solution."

"Nihilism differs from existentialism in significant ways, but arguably, the most significant one is how each conceives of meaning. Nihilism considers meaning as illusory, so anything can then be meaningful. Something like gambling could be considered as equal to the provision of financial or emotional aid. When meaning is thought to be little more than subjective, the debate over its significance is then seemingly resolved by invoking relativity—"Well, it's just meaningful to you.""

Nihilism creates a false dichotomy between objective and subjective meaning, treating meaning as either cosmic truth or mere personal preference. Many behaviors can be framed as equally meaningful under that view, reducing moral and practical distinctions. Existentialism offers an alternative by grounding meaning in individual decisions and commitments rather than cosmic validation. Escaping reality functions on a spectrum: some forms are impulsive or pleasure-seeking, while others involve deliberate choices that confer meaning. Rejecting nihilistic relativity allows people to create genuine significance through choices, responsibilities, and projects that matter to them and to others.

Read at Psychology Today