The Argument for Nihilism Through Immortality

The Argument for Nihilism Through Immortality Value is a Function of Scarcity: This is the foundational premise. As the Massimo Pigliucci interview suggests, the reason we act with urgency, joy, and purpose is that our time is a finite and non-renewable resource. Every choice we make carries weight because we cannot simply "rewind" and "redo" it. Our lives matter precisely because they end. Immortality Eliminates Scarcity: A religious promise of eternal life fundamentally removes this scarcity. If an infinite number of tomorrows are guaranteed, then the urgency of today vanishes. The consequences of our actions on this mortal plane are temporary and can always be corrected in the next, endless phase of existence. The Loss of Meaning: When the inherent scarcity of time is removed, the basis for value dissolves. If the "game" of life can be played over and over again, with no finality, then nothing truly matters in the way it does for a finite being. In this philosophical framework, the promise of immortality is a paradox: it offers a grand reward, but in doing so, it destroys the very currency—the preciousness of now—that gives our lives meaning. Therefore, from this perspective, any system that removes time from the equation of life logically necessitates nihilism. The value you seek to claim is a function of time; without time, there can be no value in this sense.