good point, and something to think about. Obviously someone who assigned truly equal value to every possible action would behave completely at random, which nobody does.
A better guess: what happens when you feel nihilistic is anhedonia. You don’t get as much value or satisfaction out of the “peaks”—experiences that once were very desirable are now less so. This results in expending much less effort to attain the most desirable things. Your ability to desire intensely is messed up.
I think you could model that by flattening out the peaks. It leaves most processes intact (you still speak in language, you still put on clothes, etc.) but it diminishes motivation, anticipation, and happiness. You can do a little goal-directed activity (rock-bottom rituals, choosing to eat or sleep) but much less than normal.
good point, and something to think about. Obviously someone who assigned truly equal value to every possible action would behave completely at random, which nobody does.
A better guess: what happens when you feel nihilistic is anhedonia. You don’t get as much value or satisfaction out of the “peaks”—experiences that once were very desirable are now less so. This results in expending much less effort to attain the most desirable things. Your ability to desire intensely is messed up.
I think you could model that by flattening out the peaks. It leaves most processes intact (you still speak in language, you still put on clothes, etc.) but it diminishes motivation, anticipation, and happiness. You can do a little goal-directed activity (rock-bottom rituals, choosing to eat or sleep) but much less than normal.
Yes, reduced intensity and resulting disturbed balance of psychological drives is a much better description.