Schools of Thought
Compare Schools
Select up to 5 schools to compare their attributes side by side. Rows with differing values are highlighted.
Select schools to compare:
#1
Realism
#2
Idealism
#3
Existentialism
#4
Pragmatism
#5
Phenomenology
#6
Relativism
#7
Determinism
#8
Presentism
#9
Eternalism
#10
Multiverse Theory
#11
Simulation Theory
#12
Naturalism
#13
Relationalism
#14
Quantum Realism
#15
Dualism
#16
Panpsychism
#17
Pragmatic Realism
#18
Process Philosophy
#19
Structuralism
#20
Postmodernism
#21
Dialectical Materialism
#22
Absurdism
#23
Phenomenalism
#24
Critical Realism
#25
Empiricism
#26
Rationalism
#27
Transcendentalism
#28
Solipsism
#29
Buddhism
#30
Kantian Transcendental Idealism
#31
Stoicism
#32
Constructivism
#33
Advaita Vedanta
#34
Catholic/Thomistic
#35
Nihilism
✓
#36
Reformed / Calvinist Theology
#37
Neo-Platonism
#38
Analytic Metaphysics / Logical Atomism
#39
Logical Positivism
#40
Taoism
#41
Confucianism
#42
Jainism / Anekantavada
#43
Samkhya
#44
Occasionalism
#45
Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO)
#46
Pyrrhonism
#47
Sufism / Wahdat al-Wujud
#48
Kabbalah (Lurianic)
#49
Hylomorphism
#50
Neutral Monism
#51
Yogacara
#52
Zoroastrianism
#53
Deep Ecology
#54
Dataism / Information Ontology
#55
Animism / Relational-Indigenous Worldview
#56
Ubuntu / African Communal Ontology
#57
Transhumanism / Posthumanism
#58
Psychedelic / Entheogenic Worldview
#59
Afrofuturism / Black Quantum Futurism
#60
Gamer / Virtual-Realist Worldview
#61
Wellness / Energetic Worldview
| Attribute |
#35
Nihilism
Nietzsche, Schopenhauer (precursors); Ivan Turgenev (term)
|
|---|---|
| Time · Extent | Both |
| Time · Ontological Status | Relational |
| Time · Grain | Continuous |
| Time · Freedom | Non-Deterministic |
| Time · Traversability | Linear |
| Time · Dimensionality | N |
| Time · Direction | Non-directional |
| Space · Extent | Both |
| Space · Ontological Status | Relational |
| Space · Curvature | Undefined |
| Space · Dimensionality | N |
| Space · Locality | Non-local |
| Matter · Extent | Both |
| Matter · Ontological Status | Relational |
| Matter · Conservation | Conserved |
| Matter · Dimensionality | N |
| Matter · Locality | Non-local |
| Observer · Time Instance | Single |
| Observer · Space Instance | Single |
| Observer · Knowledge Extent | Immediate |
| Observer · Knowledge Retainment | Immediate |
| Observer · Physicality | Embodied |
| Observer · Agency | Passive |
| Observer · Number | Plural |
| Energy · Extent | Finite |
| Energy · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Energy · Conservation | Conserved |
| Energy · Dispersibility | Irreversible |
| Information · Ontological Status | Emergent |
| Information · Conservation | Non-conserved |
| Information · Granularity | Continuous |
| Observer Analysis (Full Text) | |
| Nihilism | The observer is a physical organism stranded in a single moment and place within an indifferent universe devoid of inherent meaning, purpose, or value. Consciousness is an accident of matter — present but conferring no special status. Knowledge, if possible at all, reveals only a meaningless void; there is nothing ultimately worth knowing or retaining. The observer is embodied and passive — it does not constitute or alter reality, and its existence carries no more significance than a stone's. Other observers exist, but their existence is equally meaningless. The nihilist confronts a world that offers no answers because there are no questions that matter. |