Gaze Into the Abyss - Nihilism in Rick and Morty & BoJack Horseman - Wisecrack Edition 

RU-vid has finally made having a degree in Philosophy turn into a profitable career

My way to cope with nihilism: If nothing matters, it should not matter that nothing matters.

Bojack: I am a piece of shit Rick: Everything is shit

"When you enjoy wasting your time your not wasting it". -My dead alcoholic Grandmother

I feel like you missed an opportunity with Mr. Peanutbutter. His message to Diane when she was about to go off on her philanthropic journey sounded suspiciously close to Cosmic Nihilism. He said “ The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning. It's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead.” Mr Peanutbutter has ultimately gone further beyond caring about the meaninglessness of existence, and rather than grasp for some legacy like Bojack does, he just does whatever he feels like.

"Except Mr. Peanutbutter, he seems fine." Hmm... about that...

Although BoJack himself is a nihilist, I don't find the show itself to be nihilist at all. It's just a realistic depiction of the struggles of someone suffering with depression.

On a "good" day, I am an existential nihilist. On a "bad" day, I am a cosmic nihilist. On average, I am somewhere between the two.

When ever this subject is brought up I look back to the very profound observation of Michelle Eileen McNamara (Patton Oswalt's deceased wife) "It's all chaos. Be kind."

Just a clarification: Nietzsche was what he called an active nihilist: someone who destroys all previously held values, morals and beliefs and creates their own; someone who awknoledges the tragedy that is life, but love it regardless, and most of all, live it. Now, what he warned against was what he called passive nihilism: someone who awknoledges the baselessness of all morals, values and beliefs, as well as the tragic nature of life (and its meaninglessness), but stops there, and more or less lives day by day, waiting to die, with no goals, passions, or dreams to speak of.

Existence is suffering, but it's better than nothing, you could at least enjoy it.

4:41 Mr Peanutbutter is not "fine". According to his famous quote:"The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn’t a search for meaning. It’s to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense and eventually, you’ll be dead."(ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-s8yjy2-NFoU.html) He's a cosmic nihilist, like Rick, minus the drinking. (I think if Rick were a dogman, he'd be just like Mr. Peanutbutter.)

UPDATE: Thanks for the questions everyone. We're signing off but we'll do another one soon. Hey everyone! Jared, Alec and Mike are around to answer any of your questions about life, love, the abyss, whatever! Ask anything using the hashtag #WisecrackAMA

I can't be the only other person who'd love to somehow see an on-screen conversation between Rick and Bojack right?

Well if anyone took nihilism to the extreme you also finding that "thoughts and emotions" don't matter and you might let go of the concept of yourself and reach a nice empty clear and calm mind. Nihilism in practice can be called meditation and it feels more healthy than drowning oneself in alcohol

Philosophy of futurama. Before it was cancelled the first time vs when it came back

After watching the end part, I just want to say thank you. As a recluse thanks to a condition, I love to watch and read to learn new things, and you guys have been one of the most consistent channels for very deep and interesting videos. Your videos have made me really think about how I feel about life and others I interact with. I'm not very good at wording how I feel but I just wanted to thank you guys and to say, keep up the amazing videos.

The Philosophy of The Good Place please!!! It is a really underrated show, with some actuall Philosophy as part of the plot!! That would be so interesting !!

I tend to think along the absurdist line of thought that there is no inherent meaning and our irreconcilable desire for meaning makes life both tragic and ultimately worth living. If nothing has intrinsic worth and it's all based on one's perception, then you have the freedom to ascribe worth to whatever you so choose. Ultimately I do think this is still a coping mechanism, but I enjoy entertaining the illusion at times for sanity's sake.

The problem with throwing away ethical concerns (with cosmic nihilism), is that the human body is still a biological system that rewards social behavior. So even if you understand that ethics are arbitrairy, you cannot escape the chemical construction of the brain. Besides, there are judicial consequences of unethical actions, which will severely impair the possibility of any satifaction one might obtain

The philosophy of Albert Camus always gives me so much comfort.

Is it posible to suffer from both and none at the same time? Trick question. The answer is: “it doesn’t matter”

4 minutes and 20 seconds in and I'm already questioning my life decisions Also, yes I am high, but also extremely drunk.

I feels like, I can't have a healthy relationship anything is addictive. When I have too much pressure on me I think about drinking. Even I barely use alcohol, the idea of being an alcoholic frightens me.It's weird and after I watched bojack horseman, I began to questioning everything. Like over-eating, sugar consuming, over-watching, social media consuming etc. Everytime that we are not aware of what we are doing, we are addicts. I think, filling the holes inside our souls is impossible if we just delay conscious times. But do we have a chance? I mean, don't we have to carry over? Why we want to stop and being sad about our existential crisis? It's just sounds like meaningless but sometimes I feels like it is the only thing that is not meaningless.

What's this? A crossover episode? 😂

There is a heavy bias in existentialist thinking. The only people who worry about the nuance of existing are those who don't need to worry about survival so much so that they don't value it. Great video Wisecrack!

"Except Mr. Peanutbutter" Well, no more. He has crazy struggles in the new season.

In the wise words of Mr. Peanutbutter, "The key to being happy isn't the search for meaning; it's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead."

You said that Mr.Peanutbutter seem fine but this quote from season one say the opposite : "The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning. It's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead."

Wow, I would not have thougt Bojack Horseman is such a good and entertaining cartoon. Since I already loved Rick and Morty, guess what I will do instead of studying the next few days.

13:25 he’s just describing the ego structure. I actually agree completely that our “self” is just an illusion. The “everyone is no body” quote scene was so real to me.

The part of this video that states that anxiety is just the dizziness of looking into the void has put me at ease. I have always been a very existential person and have suffered from a constant and consistent anxiety. Having this view expressed to me has given me a certain sense of comfort that my anxiety is a type of side effect to my specific existential intelligence. So thank you for your wonderful content and providing a fan with a new found comfort.

God I love these shows. I personally like bojack a bit more just because in my opinion it's a bit more sentimental and I can relate and care more about the characters and stories

2:17 *Fun Fact* ! Did you know that horses are physically incapable of vomiting? _The More You Know!_

Peanut-Butter was never fine, he just puts on a big happy fast. But with how many times he has been married it is fair to say he is deeply afraid to be alone maybe to even the point where if he was he thinks he will disappear. And by that it is fair to say that is the reason he wants to stay in the limelight and also will do what people tell them even if it doesn't make sense. Though that also might be since he isn't very bright.

Existential nihilism sounds like a fear of destruction which prevents someone from making things, whilst cosmic nihilism is the fear of creation that you can keep destroying but everything will keep coming back.

**hears reddit howling at the distance**

Nothing is true. Everything is permited. To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic.

I love how blunt and direct this video is. It's perfect

Philosophy of Calvin and Hobbes?

My alcoholism has really taken off after Rick and Morty. Thanks, Wisecrack.

my two favourite cartoons and possibly one of the most interesting philosophies!

To think that love should be dismissed is ignoring the human need to categorize. Love isn't folk-psychology, it is the name that we as humans have given to the feeling we experience when the chemical reaction in our brains occurs. All emotions are chemical reactions, but they are still real--they are names given to specific chemical reactions, each of which has a vastly different effect.

i would be so interested in a wisecrack edition of the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. i know it's not the usual kind of pop culture seeing as it's a book series from the 80s (and radio show i guess) but i think it'd be incredible to see your take on it.

2:28 Unfortunately, that's a picture showing the prussian german philosopher Immanuel kant

technically every clock is a countdown clock to the inevitable heat death of the universe

Can't wait till the next Rick and Morty season

Where's the third option, of nihilism leading to an unending and unqualified sense of extreme joy and wonder? There seems to be this cultural assumption that nihilism implies some sort of suffering, when in reality it implies no "logical" emotional response to the inherent meaninglessness. Emotions should not be juxtaposed against rationality, because they just ARE. In that sense, there is no "reason" that one should feel anything over anything else. It is no more illogical to feel intense optimistic joy than it is to feel extreme pessimistic despair. Perhaps this is a form of Absurdism, but even Absurdism implies that it is "crazy" to believe this way. I am a positivist, and I suffer from no delusions that somehow my desires and beliefs are fundamental. Yet that doesn't stop me from pursuing a deep sense of joy and wonder with no less fervor than an intensely religious person pursues God. How are you supposed to convince me that my feelings are illogical? I make no claim on reality, only on my desires, which simply exist as they do.

I'm surprised H.P. Lovecraft wasn't brought up when talking about cosmic nihilism.

Can you do an episode about Spongebob Season 2 Episode 26, "Squidville"? You know. the one where Squidward moves into a town that promises to be perfect, but turns out to be a repetative nightmare.

"Except Mr Peanut Butter, he seems fine" I mean he literally said there was no meaning in life. I think Mr PB is a personification of nihilism, for him life has no meaning, but because of that, he doesn't worry about life and does thing that amuse him.

I started watching this as a break from my homework but idk if I wanna start my homework anymore...

I'm curious to know if you have ever thought about doing a Philosophy of the Coen Brothers.

Oh come on, Mr.peanutbutter said himself that he knows nothing matters and his solution is to endlessly distract himself.

15:52 Rick was doing the baphomet pose: I think it’s something you sell your soul too?idk

Woah!! Amazing video! I love both Bojack and Rick & Morty but I have to side with Bojack more here. Eventually it all doesn't matter, but what matters is now. So be real with yourself and enjoy the moments in life for what they are! Nothing more or less!

You guys are the best. I was raised LDS (Mormon) and always struggled to fit into the culture and belief system. Even as a kid I would find myself getting severely depressed, even suicidal because the things I was being taught didn't seem to align with the reality I perceived. It wasn't until a few years ago that I finally allowed myself to explore alternate perceptions and ideas. Leaving a faith that you are raised in can simultaneously be a relief and fill you with dread. Trying to figure out who you are and what you believe after a lifetime of having others try to say for you. Concepts like this can really help people sort out things they may have been thinking and feeling without realizing exactly what it means. Your videos while fun also offer a very valuable service. Thank you for being awesome

I remember when I sent this email. I still love this channel and I'm still as huge fan. I come back here sometimes and watch this to remind myself of the things I put in this email. Thank you guys for continuing to be amazing and insightful.

Challenge!: What is the philosophy of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic"? I know it's pretty obvious, but I would love to see an in-depth view of it.

Hey Wisecrack! How do you guys figure out what philosophical theories are related to the topics you cover? Keep up the good work!

You won't even believe how much i needed this rn. Thank You

Why do a lot of these comments seem to consider Philosophy like a choice? Like a path or life style you decide on. Philosophy is an exploration, search and argument in response to the world around us, and of us. It's not like, you pick the one that best suits your personality.

What is this, a crossover episode?

When I was younger, I was an existential nihilist... the older I got, the more I realised things only stress me out if I care about it. The less I care, the less stressed I get, and no matter how much i do, or dont do, the end results are always the same.

#NoLivesMatter

I'd love your thoughts on David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, this video made me think again about this depressingly funny, frikkin masterpiece.....please?!?!?

Sees Rick and Morty "Eh" Then sees Bojack "AHHHH"

Edgelord and """genius""" territory.

I found Tyler Durden's worldview's Meaningful. Not sane, but Meaningful.

This comment doesn't matter

Camus. Is daddy, and like someone else said here, his philosophy is so comforting

Philosophy of Avatar the Last Airbender. Please.

Every one has freedom of mind. Unfortunately others would rather use this to control others. On our current destination to death, I just like to enjoy myself and help those that I love enjoy themselves. But don't spread the nihilism, just guide them around it. This is why it's important to let those you love know that you love them.

80% of comments saying nihilists are super edgy 15% of comments saying mature things on the subject of course the other 5% is youtube's classical spam bots and top comment spammers

Who does a guy (not me, of course) have to blow to get a philosophy of NBC's Hannibal?

I think I’m an existential nihilist, I accept that nothing I do will have any impact on the outcome of my life and the whole universe but I live with it and I give it a positive spin because if nothing has any impact on the final outcome of everything than why should I let bad things effect me. Now I just live my life being happy and trying to make the people I care about be happy.

IQ intensifies

Huh. Mostly Existential with a dash of cosmic for me. ... does that even work?

I would love to see a series of videos on each and every philosopher. What their philosophy is and how it affects the world.

Philosophy of Courage the Cowardly Dog??

also you guys should analyze your favorite episodes of black mirror!!!

Watching this video (and many more from your channel), has finally encouraged myself to study philosophy, Thanks Wisecrack!

I'm still wondering what the evolutionary benefit of existential dread is. Why do we sometimes drive ourselves into depression and occasionally even suicide contemplating what we perceive to be a constant and unchanging fact of life? Is it just an unfortunate side affect of our intelligence? What's even the point of our obsession with understanding the mysteries of the universe if, in an evolutionary sense, the only thing we need to do is live long enough to have kids, and ensure they do the same?

Life without pain has no meaning. Gentlemen, I wish to give your lives meaning . . .

There is one obvious solution to nihilism. Just become a space cowboy. You're gonna carry that weight.

The sugar piling up above the coffee thing blows my mind.

'Yall are missing a simple fact about your legacy. You might not be able to control it, but it sure as shit exists. Chaos theory is quite clear on the subject: Small changes in initial conditions can have huge effects on outcomes. This is famously known as "The Butterfly effect". If I've learned one thing from astronomy. it's that scale means nothing. And if scale means nothing the idea of our insignificance based on our size or number relative to the universe is also pointless. To get the right answer to a problem, you must ask the right questions. Existentialism - of all flavors - is a philosophical dead end because it asks the wrong question by obsessing about "meaning" in absolute terms relative to the universe, space-time, god, or whatever. The irony is that everything "matters". from the smallest to the largest scales everything is self similar, yet never repeats, and is thus unpredictable. everything effects everything else, so it all "matters" The search for meaning is really just a search for predictability: "I'f I do the right thing, good things will happen for me and those I love" sort of thinking. That good might be happiness, or immortality (Christianity) or whatever. The right question to ask might be something like "what is the nature of the universe, and how can I best put myself in accord with it?" I suspect the answer lies in quantum phenomena, and that the universe itself is a living system, as is everything that makes it up. Dead, inanimate things don't give birth to the living, and the universe certainly gave birth to all of us - even if we are too feeble-minded and ignorant to understand exactly how or why. Just because we can't understand or are ignorant of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. We certainly have been programmed by the universe (or evolution, it's apparent creative process) to seek meaning, it would be odd if such a strong and universal drive served no purpose. Violates the parsimony principal and Occam's razor and so on.... Find the purpose as to why we seek purpose, and you might just find the meaning of existence. I figure it has something to with sex, personally.... ;-)

Me: Starting to shake off my recent bought of depression, "Let's binge watch Wisecrack episodes" 19 minutes and 35 seconds later... "Oh my god, I done f***ed up!"

Do The Philosophy of Warhammer 40k.

Nothing matters and at the same time, everything matters. We are responsible for creating our own meaning and we can take comfort in the absurd.

I'm starting to think the people at Wisecrack are nihilistic

No matter how hard you try. Abyss will always remain victorious.

I like the part when he said "Nihilism"

Bro you just helped me out Bc for the past year or so I’ve started thinking about everything like this and I didn’t know it was a thing till I saw this video

You know what, lately I've been a little bit fuzzy about existence and what i should and want to do, I truly believe that this video has put in words all of this I'm thinking right now, an helped me to understand some of it too, thank you.

Cosmic nihilism seems to me the most honest of the beliefs but also the most hypocrite. It’s impossible to move forward and make choices without any subjective value or meaning. Even if you reduce this meaning to feed physiological needs and desires, it is inescapable to have a drive that contradicts your belief in not believing in any inherent or chosen value. I believe that cosmic nihilism speaks the truth, but is impossible to follow as a life philosophy on which you could base your choices.

A book will never be summed as paper with ink. Love will never be just a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is the consequence, not the cause.

Why haven't you guys done anything about The Wire?

I personally believe explaining and understanding the mechanisms behind a behavior does not lessen it or cheapen it. The behavior is more concrete after it is explained by science . It is grounded in reality and science reveals this fact. Science however fails to answer the why, only the how. As far as I know we are unable to pierce this veil.

My mom and the neighbors having panic attacks over how tall is the grass in my garden or how many leaves are laying around on my backyard, and not being able to understand me when I tell them those are immeasurably ridiculously trivial matters in the great scale of the universe. I'm not lazy, I'm just brutally overwhelmed by the weight of the absolute lack of meaning all over the totality of existence, and I'm super depressed about it.