Nihilism

Nihilism is a philosophical belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.

Origins of Nihilism

Nihilism has its origins in the philosophical ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher who believed that traditional values (religious, moral, and political) had lost their power in the lives of individuals. He characterized nihilism as emptying the world, and especially human existence, of meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, and essential value.

Types of Nihilism

There are several interpretations of nihilism:

• Existential nihilism, which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.
• Moral nihilism, which argues that morality does not inherently exist, and that any established moral values are abstractly contrived.
• Epistemological nihilism, which negates the possibility of knowledge and truth and is linked to extreme skepticism.
• Metaphysical nihilism, which posits that concrete objects and physical constructs might not exist in the possible world, or at least might not exist in the way we think they do.

Nihilism in Popular Culture

Nihilism has been widely portrayed in popular culture, often in a negative light, due to its associations with anarchy, destruction, and a lack of moral ground.

Criticisms of Nihilism

Critics of nihilism often argue that it is inherently self-refuting, as to declare everything meaningless is a meaningful statement in itself. Others argue that while it may be logically consistent, it is practically untenable.

See Also

• Existentialism
• Absurdism
• Skepticism
• Friedrich Nietzsche

References

Nihilism Resources
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