From /u/RedDogInCan:

I liken it to a role play game:

  • Nihilists are non-playing characters who don't accept the existence of a game master to set the rules, but don't know what to do otherwise.
  • Optimistic nihilists are non-playing characters who don't accept the existence of a game master to set the rules, but decide to make their own fun in the world as they see it.
  • Existentialists are playing characters who think everyone else is a non-playing, don't accept the existence of a game master to set the rules, and play the game however they want.

Other philosophies can be thought of as different degrees of accepting the existence/power/purpose of the game master, or believing they are the game master.

  • Fatalists are non-playing characters accept the existence of a game master and follow the rules blindly.
  • Absurdists are playing characters that believe that everyone else is also a playing character but that there is no game.
  • Deists are playing characters who think the game master has left the room shortly after they set up
  • Absolutists are playing characters who look to the game master to guide their every move, and try not to annoy them
  • Theists are playing characters who believe one or more game masters exist but have never seen any, and spend much time debating the interpretation of the rules.
  • Libertarianists are playing characters who think the rules don't apply to them
  • Determinists are playing characters who rely on the dice to determine their move
  • Epicureanists are playing characters who are just playing for the fun of it.