An Indictment of Nihilistic Pessimism

By Daniel Shapiro’23

    The modern world has seen an increase in the number of ways society consumes information, with the internet becoming the greatest source. With that constant influx of news comes the side effect of knowing so much. We see the vast array of difficult problems we face, and that feeling can be numbing and disheartening. 
With the advent of technology, and the internet in particular, we are constantly bombarded with negative information. This can reasonably lead to a sense of dread, that if not properly managed could lead to crippling apathy. 

    Any statement that declares that nothing will ever get better is to deny the progress made by civilization. As a species, there are more people living longer than there ever has in history. This makes the fact that people are living in impoverished conditions today a travesty and is one of the many problems that require fixing. 
    As a species, we have done great and terrible things. We have invented the wheel, agriculture and landed rovers on Mars and saved multitudes of lives. But we have also invented poisonous gases and murdered each other in massive numbers. There is no uniform reason for despair.
    As a society and as individuals we must strike a balance between peace of mind and being well informed. With too little information, people become ignorant; too much information, and the scope of the problems facing us turn overwhelming. 
    We should all try to live in the middle ground of being concerned but not consumed. We should have the desire to act due to our concern but do not slip into soul-crushing despair. 
When the world’s problems feel overwhelming, one of the best remedies for this anxiousness is action. Any form of action that allows a person to feel some semblance of control over the small part of the world they inhabit can give some peace of mind. Whether that is becoming a vegetarian for the good of animals or the environment, or writing to your local and state governments about issues that concern you, these small actions can create a feeling of calm. 
     There is, however, a sliding scale at work here. Being too hopeful can create blind optimism, and distract people from true problems. However, if hope dwindles it can lead to melancholy and inaction. The goal is to have equilibrium in mind.
To create hope, you must not simply rely upon the deeds of others, but create your own hope by acting yourself. The next step is to go beyond the individual.
 Societal change is possible through concerted pressure on our government, both local and national, to achieve the goals that will better society for the good of all, not just a few. This change has happened before and is happening now. We just have to keep pushing and never let up.
The world needs us to work for it, to care for it and, most importantly, to preserve it for future generations. If we fall into despair, into apathy, that will not happen. It cannot happen as long as we are full of hopelessness. Change only happens when people and organizations, every entity in society, steps up and decides that they have had enough and the world must be improved.