What is the Opposite of Nihilism?
This newsletter features a different contributor each week covering the topic in the name: the opposite of nihilism. Think “Modern Love”, but the subject is how to keep believing in ourselves and in a world of possibility at a time when nihilism beckons and the future feels increasingly foreclosed. Op-Ed length writing about the things that keep us going.
Opposite of Nihilism bolsters and champions the parts of life that precede politics, that fundamentally inform how we think about ourselves and the world and our positioning in it. We publish brief meditations, short personal essays, art criticism, and more. Learn more in our inaugural post:
Contributing writers are encouraged to consider four associated themes:
Belief. We can’t fake optimism, we cannot conjure hope when it is in rare supply. But we can hold on to what we believe.
Passion. Passion is that force of feeling which makes us feel most alive. Passion orients our vitality and creativity outward into the world, throwing off sparks.
Laughter. Laughter frees the spirit. Laughing at the absurd is a way of telling the truth. Laughing to spite the powerful is a way of claiming power.
Love. Love abides.
Subscribe, Submit, Support
Join the community: subscribe to get new posts directly in your inbox, submit to be published, and consider supporting this work with a paid subscription.
Money Talk
Okay, let’s talk about money. I hope you won’t mind if I drop the editorial voice I’m using on the rest of the site.
Acknowledgments
Opposite of Nihilism was founded in early 2025 and is edited by Adam Zemel
Logo and branding design by Cody Hart
Social media strategy and support by Erica Houston
Advice and gut checks by Bri Hall and Michael Holzman
