I’ve tried to explain what I’m doing on the Home page and the Start Here page. But I realize now that it still might be confusing to a new visitor: What exactly is this project?

As Einstein (supposedly) said,

“If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

Every time I try to explain this project in simpler terms, it helps me understand it better too. So here’s another attempt—simple and direct.

What I’m Doing

I’m trying to share what I’ve figured out about the world and how to live in it. And I also want to keep figuring things out.

That’s it.

The Method: Rationality

I do this using reason—logic, thinking, science—to the best of my ability. I’m not saying this is the only path to insight. But it’s the only one that works for me. Because it doesn’t require me to believe in someone or something. It doesn’t require faith. If you’re someone who can’t stop asking “why?”—if you’re an overthinker—then this path might work for you too.

Now you might say, “That’s cute, pal! But this has been tried. Smarter men have walked the rational path and failed. You can’t think your way to the meaning of life.”

And I’d say, “First of all, don’t call me pal, buddy. And second, that’s my first big claim: I think you can get somewhere through reason. And I believe I’ve done it—or at least made a good start. Take a look and see if it speaks to you.”

Then you’d say, “Don’t call me buddy, friend. But fine. I’ll bite. Just tell me this: why are you a nihilist?”

And I’d say, “I’m not your friend, bro.” And then I’d explain why it has to be nihilism.

The Philosophy: Nihilism (But Not What You Think)

To really understand this project, you have to let go of your assumptions about nihilism.

Most people hear “nihilist” and think of someone in black clothes, depressed and moody, muttering about how nothing matters. But technically, nihilism just means: not believing in anything. No assumptions. No dogma. No stories about ultimate purpose or cosmic justice.

That’s exactly the mindset a good scientist takes into the lab. Leave beliefs at the door. Let reality speak for itself. In that sense, a perfect scientist is a nihilist—at least while doing science.

So if you’re trying to figure out how to live by using reason and evidence, you have to start from that same place: no beliefs. No gods. No myths. No “ultimate meanings.” That’s nihilism—not as despair, but as clarity. And it’s what I call Rational Nihilism.

This is my second big claim: that Nihilism is not just a viable view, but the only one that a rational philosopher should hold.

Let me repeat the core of this project in one sentence:

I’m developing philosophy as a software, to share what I’ve figured out (and keep figuring out) about the world and how to live in it—using reason and without any pre-held beliefs.

Why Software?

Now you might be wondering, “Okay, so rational nihilism. Got it. But what’s with all the software talk?”

Good question. Honestly, I might’ve jumped ahead a bit. Maybe I should’ve just focused on the ideas first, and brought in the tech metaphors later. But it made too much sense to me, so I ran with it. And maybe, in the long run, it’ll turn out to be a lucky mistake.

Here’s the third big claim I’m making:

Philosophy should be developed like software.

That’s because the traditional model of philosophy—as building a huge, perfect system meant to last forever—is flawed. It’s too heavy, too static, too obsessed with “foundations” and “grand theories.” And no one has been able to pull it off.

Instead, what if philosophy worked like software?

Not the pyramids. Not the Taj Mahal. But version 1.0. Then version 1.1. Then version 2.0. Each one better than the last. Each one built with real-world feedback.

Philosophy as Software Has Many Advantages:

• No crushing pressure to produce a perfect system that lasts for eternity.
• Focus on real-world usefulness, not academic games.
• Constant evolution through updates and patches.
• Collaboration: anyone can contribute, fork ideas, or improve the code.
• Built-in humility: ideas are expected to be temporary and context-sensitive.
• Survival of the fittest ideas, tested in real life.

In this model, every human is like a node in a vast neural network. Each person generates philosophical “code”—ways of thinking and living. And through trial and error, the best patterns spread, while the bad ones are weeded out.

It’s not just rational. It’s evolutionary.

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Final Thought

You might ask, “Okay, but philosophy isn’t literally software, right?”

Right. It’s a metaphor. But one that’s worth taking seriously.

Think of every idea as a piece of mental software. Some are useful. Some are bloatware. Some are viruses. My project is to write, refine, and release a piece of mental software called Rational Nihilism—and to invite others to test it, improve it, and contribute.

If that sounds interesting, you’re in the right place.

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Cover Photo by Jacek Janiczak on Unsplash