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- The word is derived from Latin, nihil, which means ‘nothing.’ Nihilism can mean believing that nothing is real, believing that it’s impossible to know anything, believing that all values are based on nothing, especially moral values, or believing that life is inherently and utterly meaningless.
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Nietzsche characterized nihilism as emptying the world and especially human existence of meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. This observation stems in part from Nietzsche's perspectivism , or his notion that "knowledge" is always by someone of some thing: it is always bound by perspective, and it is never mere fact. [ 75 ]
- The Historical Context of Nihilism
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- A Word from Verywell
As a philosophy, nihilism rejects the value and meaning society places on people, objects, and life. The exact origin of the term is uncertain, but scholars have been able to pinpoint it to the 18th century. From there, nihilism became a popular topic within philosophical circles. Some of the most important thinkers are listed below.
When it comes to discussing nihilism in contemporary society, two leading theoretical practices are usually referenced — existential and cosmic nihilism. However, while these may be the most common, there have been various positions explored and the term is regularly used in a variety of contexts.It is because of this that nihilism is seen as a vag...
When talking about nihilism, it is common to hear someone reference the term “existential dread.” Existential dread is usually linked to nihilism due to it being seen as a response or consequence of engagement to questions around the meaning of life. That said, you do not have to be a nihilist to experience it. Should this existential dread intensi...
You don’t have to be a full-blown nihilist to experience nihilistic thoughts; it is normal to question the meaning of life and all of the suffering that people experience. Being a nihilist or having nihilist thoughts isn’t a negative thing. As detailed above, many nihilist theories say that it is up to the individual to create their own meaning. Re...
Nihilism, philosophy that denies the existence of genuine moral truths and asserts the ultimate meaninglessness of life or of the universe.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Oct 20, 2022 · Nihilism is a philosophy that rejects values and the valuation society places on people, objects, and life, and instead states that everything is meaningless.
Nihilism can mean believing that nothing is real, believing that it’s impossible to know anything, believing that all values are based on nothing, especially moral values, or believing that life is inherently and utterly meaningless. We will discuss these different kinds of nihilism through its history and in section five.
Nihilism is the 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.
Aug 28, 2003 · Nothingness. Since metaphysics is the study of what exists, one might expect metaphysicians to have little to say about the limit case in which nothing exists. But around the fifth century BCE in China, India, and Greece, philosophers turned from what is, to what is not (Sorensen 2022).
