Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

I think that's a really good point, a practical truth like that works very well. But what makes it a truth?

Originally Posted by Logic

I say this because of all the "woe is me" "God is dead" whining associated with nihilism - the realization that meaning is created, not discovered, should be a cause for celebration, not despair. It means what we do matters.

Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

Well would there be an absolute value in a human life? When someone devalues human life, the great majority views them as a monster. If only a very small minority disagrees, does that make it fact. It may be a matter of opinion, but how many people does it take for an opinion to be considered the standard moral view or truth. If a view or moral transcends cultures and extends through humanity as a whole, is that enough?
The basic question is, is it even possible for a moral truth to exist, even one created by humanity?

EDIT: Also, The death of God would lead to a rejection that is supposed to be overcome. The idea was some would go to Nihilism, and some would fight to make their own meaning and morals.

Originally Posted by Odlov

Well, objective (ie independent of us) moral truths could exist, but I don't believe there is any good reason to believe they do exist (and even less reason to believe some old silly book reveals them). Assuming they don't....I think moral truths can still exist, but only as practical, provisional truths. Just like our concept of "healthy" is a practical truth.

Originally Posted by AikidoKP

Nihilism has the option to adopt morals of others if they are functional or beneficial.

Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

Adopting others morals is never a good idea in my mind. Too many people nowadays adopt and copy the moral standings of others without really thinking about it. I've always hated that...

Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

Meaning being created is leaning more towards Existentialism. An Existentialist believes you can create meaning, but a Nihilist would disagree, denying that someone can create meaning.
And here is the Wikipedia article on Existentialism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism

Originally Posted by Dalliance

Everybody (including yourself) does that all the time. Your parents/guardians, teachers, friends etc. all imparted their own values onto you, most likely without you or them realising it. Your morals are the result of your interactions with others during your life.

Originally Posted by Logic

That's what I'm saying. The realization that meaning is not objective should lead to the existentialist position that meaning is therefore created. Nihilism is an error in thought, because it's impossible to actually deny that there is meaning in life. You can take this position abstractly, but living in reality contradicts this. Nihilists still have to act, and to choose an action, it must be prioritized over other possible actions. To prioritize an action is to rank it over others, thereby giving it value. The value has meaning.

Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

Adopting others morals is never a good idea in my mind. Too many people nowadays adopt and copy the moral standings of others without really thinking about it. I've always hated that...

Originally Posted by Logic

That's what I'm saying. The realization that meaning is not objective should lead to the existentialist position that meaning is therefore created. Nihilism is an error in thought, because it's impossible to actually deny that there is meaning in life. You can take this position abstractly, but living in reality contradicts this. Nihilists still have to act, and to choose an action, it must be prioritized over other possible actions. To prioritize an action is to rank it over others, thereby giving it value. The value has meaning.

Originally Posted by Thatguyzeke

It may be impossible to deny that there is meaning but it is impossible to prove it too. Since meaning isn't objective its existence becomes a person to person issue, and yet another stance to have in life. Also, while i see your point about prioritizing and value, a Nihilist would deny that simply prioritizing gives something meaning, without an intrinsic value the human race is meaningless, and any meaning we create is an artificial construct from insignificant beings.

Originally Posted by AikidoKP

Also, just because something has value, doesn't give it meaning.
Zeke has given a good example, but since I assume you'd like a real world example, I'd say money. A $50 bill has value, that is obvious, but it does not have meaning. You can even prioritize it over, say a $20 bill. I would say the same goes with actions, the system I have adopted is Utilitarianism, so creating pleasure would have a higher priority than other things, but this does not give life or pleasure an objective "meaning".