Editing Nihilism (section)

== Metaphysics ==
=== Metaphysical nihilism ===
{{main|Metaphysical nihilism}}
Metaphysical or ontological nihilism encompasses various views about the fundamental nature of [[reality]]. One version addresses the question of [[Why is there anything at all?|why there is anything at all]]. It suggests that, at least in principle, an empty world is possible. While this view acknowledges that the world contains [[concrete objects]], it asserts that this is a [[Contingency (philosophy)|contingent]] fact, meaning that there could have been nothing. In such a scenario, the universe would be entirely empty, without any people, animals, planets, and no other forms of matter or energy.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Coggins|2005|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|pp=673–674}} | {{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1–2]}} }}</ref>

The subtraction argument is an influential argument for metaphysical nihilism. It proceeds from the premise that the world does not depend on the existence of any individual concrete object. For example, the world could still exist if a specific rock was removed. The argument concludes that an empty world is possible since it is the result of continuously reapplying this idea, subtracting objects at each step until an empty universe remains.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Coggins|2005|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|pp=673–674}} | {{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 11–12]}} }}</ref>{{efn|Some forms of the subtraction argument include the assumption that the world is finite to ensure that this endpoint is reached.<ref>{{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 11–12]}}</ref>}} Opponents of metaphysical nihilism assert that an empty world is impossible, meaning that something must exist. For example, one view suggests that there are necessary objects, possibly God, that are present even if nothing else is.<ref>{{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1–4]}}</ref>

A more radical and controversial form of metaphysical nihilism denies the actual existence of objects. It states that there is no world, arguing that the experience of the universe is a mere illusion without an underlying reality. As a result, nothing at all is real. This view is sometimes interpreted as [[Metaphysical solipsism|a form of solipsism]], proposing that only [[the self]] exists and that the external world is merely an idea held by the self without a substantial reality.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Slocombe|2006|pp=4, 6}} | {{harvnb|Turner|2011|pp=3–4}} | {{harvnb|Carr|1992|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=_i2VZYYYp-gC&pg=PA17 17–18, 149]}} }}</ref>

=== Mereological nihilism ===
{{main|Mereological nihilism}}
Mereological or compositional nihilism is the view that complex or composite objects do not exist. Composite objects are objects made up of [[proper part]]s. For example, a house is a composite object made up of parts like walls, windows, doors, and so forth. Each of these parts is itself a composite object made up of smaller parts, such as molecules and atoms. Mereological nihilists argue that only non-composite or simple objects exist, such as [[elementary particle]]s. As a result, composite objects are understood as mere collections of simple objects. According to this view, there are no houses or tables, there are only elementary particles arranged house-wise or table-wise.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|p=673}} | {{harvnb|Rettler|2018|pp=842–843}} | {{harvnb|Brenner|2015|pp=318–319}} | {{harvnb|Turner|2011|pp=3–4}} }}</ref>

Mereological nihilism is sometimes proposed as a solution to avoid metaphysical paradoxes, like the [[Ship of Theseus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rettler|2018|pp=842–843}}</ref>{{efn|The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment in which the parts of a ship are gradually replaced until no original part remains. The metaphysical paradox is tied to the question of whether the resulting ship is the same as the original ship. This problem does not arise for mereological nihilism, since it denies the existence of composite objects.<ref>{{harvnb|Rettler|2018|pp=842–843, 854–855}}</ref>}} Another argument in favor of mereological nihilism comes from [[Ockham's Razor]], emphasizing the parsimony and [[simplicity]] of a minimal [[ontology]] that excludes everything except simple objects.<ref>{{harvnb|Brenner|2015|pp=318–319}}</ref> Opponents of mereological nihilism highlight the counterintuitive consequences of denying the existence of ordinary objects, which contradict [[common sense]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Rettler|2018|pp=842–843}} | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|p=673}} }}</ref> Other criticisms assert that mereological nihilism is unable to provide a coherent framework for how to understand collections of elementary particles or fails to explain phenomena like [[emergent properties]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Tallant|2014|pp=1511–1512, 1526}} | {{harvnb|Cornell|2017|pp=77–78}} }}</ref>

=== Cosmic nihilism ===
Cosmic or cosmological nihilism is the view that reality is [[Intelligibility (philosophy)|unintelligible]] and lacks inherent meaning. Closely related to epistemological and existential nihilism, it asserts that the world is blank, featureless, or chaotic, making it indifferent to human attempts to understand it. Cosmic nihilists often emphasize the vastness of the universe, arguing that it shows the insignificance of humans and their endeavors.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Crosby|1998|loc=§ Cosmic nihilism}} | {{harvnb|Crosby|1988|pp=26–27, 30}} | {{harvnb|Gertz|2019|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=vwZ9wgEACAAJ&pg=PA74 74]}} }}</ref>

A broad form of cosmic nihilism states that reality as a whole is unintelligible. According to this view, the chaotic nature of the world makes it impossible to comprehend the universe on any level or find meaningful patterns in it, leading to a complete alienation of human understanding. For example, [[Max Stirner]] characterized the world as a "metaphysical chaos" without "a comprehensive structure of objective meanings". In response to arguments stating that it is possible in certain cases to discern patterns and predict outcomes, some cosmic nihilists have proposed more narrow versions. One version acknowledges that humans can understand some aspects of reality, for example, through rigorous scientific study. Nonetheless, this view maintains that the universe remains impenetrable to comprehension and indifferent to human aspirations on other levels, lacking intelligible structures that correspond to objective values, moral principles, and a higher purpose.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Crosby|1988|pp=26–27}} | {{harvnb|Crosby|1998|loc=§ Cosmic nihilism}} | {{harvnb|Weller|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=TEZ9DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 11]}} }}</ref>