'''Nihilism''' is the belief in nothing. A true nihilist would have no loyalties, and no purpose. [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] argued that nihilism's corrosive effects would eventually destroy all moral, religious, and metaphysical convictions; cause the collapse of meaning, relevance, purpose, and precipitate the greatest crisis in human history.<ref>http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm</ref> German political philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] argued that modern [[liberal]]ism has within it a tendency towards nihilism. And because of this view, some philosophers (as far back as [[Plato]]) have argued that political leaders should invent inspiring myths in order to unite citizens of modern liberal democratic society behind a common purpose, the concept of [[natural rights]] as formulated in the [[Declaration of Independence]] is often cited as an example of an inspiring myth. | '''Nihilism''' is the belief in nothing. A true nihilist would have no loyalties, and no purpose. [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] argued that nihilism's corrosive effects would eventually destroy all moral, religious, and metaphysical convictions; cause the collapse of meaning, relevance, purpose, and precipitate the greatest crisis in human history.<ref>http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm</ref> German political philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] argued that modern [[liberal]]ism has within it a tendency towards nihilism. And because of this view, some philosophers (as far back as [[Plato]]) have argued that political leaders should invent inspiring myths in order to unite citizens of modern liberal democratic society behind a common purpose, the concept of [[natural rights]] as formulated in the [[Declaration of Independence]] is often cited as an example of an inspiring myth. |