“The concept that nothing matters can be very depressing,” he says. “We are thrust into this universe for no apparent reason.”Īdopting nihilistic beliefs made Luke feel alienated and suicidal. “I think nihilism is necessary for a true life,” the 15-year-old student tells Huck. He soon began to subscribe to the belief central to nihilism, which is that life is meaningless. But can believing nothing matters also be a catalyst for positive action?Ībout a year ago, while the UK was in lockdown, Luke* discovered nihilism through a philosophy channel on YouTube. Amid rising inequality and the climate crisis, the belief that life is meaningless is gaining traction.Īmid rising inequality and the climate crisis, the view that life is meaningless is gaining traction.