Difference between revisions of "Nihilism"
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| − | '''Nihilism''' is the belief | + | '''Nihilism''' (IPA pronunciation: "ˈnaɪ.əlɪzəm") is the belief that life is, overall, meaningless. A true nihilist would have no loyalties, and no purpose. The [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] argued that [[morality|moral]], [[religion|religious]], and metaphysical convictions lead to nihilism's corrosive effects; 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> An example of nihilism would be the question reportedly posed by [[Jared Loughner]] to a congresswoman whom he allegedly later shot:<ref>http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/jared-lee-loughner-friend-voicemail-phone-message?page=1</ref> |
| − | {{cquote| | + | {{cquote|What is government if words have no meaning?}} |
| − | German political philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] argued that modern [[liberal]]ism has within it a tendency towards nihilism. | + | German political philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] argued that modern [[liberal]]ism has within it a tendency towards nihilism. [[Faith]] in God is the opposite of nihilism. In government and politics, another example of the opposite of nihilism is the concept of [[natural rights]], as formulated in the [[Declaration of Independence]]. |
Major types of nihilism include: | Major types of nihilism include: | ||
| − | *''' | + | *'''[[Epistemology|Epistemological]] nihilism''' which denies the possibility of knowledge and truth; this form of nihilism is identified with [[postmodernism]]. One famous example of epistemological nihilism is the words [[Socrates]] said before his death: "''I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.''" |
*'''Political Nihilism''' is the belief that the destruction of all existing political, social, and religious order is a prerequisite for any future improvement; this form of nihilism is identified with [[anarchism]]. | *'''Political Nihilism''' is the belief that the destruction of all existing political, social, and religious order is a prerequisite for any future improvement; this form of nihilism is identified with [[anarchism]]. | ||
*'''Moral nihilism''' rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with [[moral relativity|moral relativism]].{{fact}} | *'''Moral nihilism''' rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with [[moral relativity|moral relativism]].{{fact}} | ||
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==Beyond Nihilism== | ==Beyond Nihilism== | ||
Friedrich Nietzsche saw two kinds of nihilism in the world; pessimistic and joyous. Pessimistic nihilism was that created by the death of God in the minds of men, and corresponds to the idea that life is without meaning or value. Joyous nihilism was that experienced by those few who, like him, experienced the loss of an externally created and imposed moral structure as a liberation and not a great loss, and was the seed that let the herald Nietzsche proclaim the coming of the Übermensch. | Friedrich Nietzsche saw two kinds of nihilism in the world; pessimistic and joyous. Pessimistic nihilism was that created by the death of God in the minds of men, and corresponds to the idea that life is without meaning or value. Joyous nihilism was that experienced by those few who, like him, experienced the loss of an externally created and imposed moral structure as a liberation and not a great loss, and was the seed that let the herald Nietzsche proclaim the coming of the Übermensch. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | ==See | + | ==See also== |
| − | + | ||
| + | *[[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]] (look under "New Liberal Terms") | ||
| + | *[http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/hutchison/070307 Liberalism and the two roads to nihilism: how liberalism can collapse into nihilism through materialism or false idealism] by Fred Hutchison, March 7, 2007. | ||
| − | [[ | + | {{Liberalism}} |
| + | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
[[Category:Anarchists]] | [[Category:Anarchists]] | ||
Revision as of 07:08, June 27, 2016
Nihilism (IPA pronunciation: "ˈnaɪ.əlɪzəm") is the belief that life is, overall, meaningless. A true nihilist would have no loyalties, and no purpose. The atheist Friedrich Nietzsche argued that moral, religious, and metaphysical convictions lead to nihilism's corrosive effects; cause the collapse of meaning, relevance, purpose, and precipitate the greatest crisis in human history.[1] An example of nihilism would be the question reportedly posed by Jared Loughner to a congresswoman whom he allegedly later shot:[2]
| “ | What is government if words have no meaning? | ” |
German political philosopher Leo Strauss argued that modern liberalism has within it a tendency towards nihilism. Faith in God is the opposite of nihilism. In government and politics, another example of the opposite of nihilism is the concept of natural rights, as formulated in the Declaration of Independence.
Major types of nihilism include:
- Epistemological nihilism which denies the possibility of knowledge and truth; this form of nihilism is identified with postmodernism. One famous example of epistemological nihilism is the words Socrates said before his death: "I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."
- Political Nihilism is the belief that the destruction of all existing political, social, and religious order is a prerequisite for any future improvement; this form of nihilism is identified with anarchism.
- Moral nihilism rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with moral relativism.[Citation Needed]
- Existential nihilism is the notion that life has no meaning or purpose.[3]
- Mereological nihilism is the view that objects with parts do not exist, it's a human illusion; this view has been identified with some aspects of Buddhist philosophy and Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism.
In his book, The Decline of the West, German philosopher Oswald Spengler observes that pattern of nihilism was a feature shared by all civilizations on the verge of collapse.
Beyond Nihilism
Friedrich Nietzsche saw two kinds of nihilism in the world; pessimistic and joyous. Pessimistic nihilism was that created by the death of God in the minds of men, and corresponds to the idea that life is without meaning or value. Joyous nihilism was that experienced by those few who, like him, experienced the loss of an externally created and imposed moral structure as a liberation and not a great loss, and was the seed that let the herald Nietzsche proclaim the coming of the Übermensch.
References
- ↑ http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm
- ↑ http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/jared-lee-loughner-friend-voicemail-phone-message?page=1
- ↑ http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm
See also
- Essay:Best New Conservative Words (look under "New Liberal Terms")
- Liberalism and the two roads to nihilism: how liberalism can collapse into nihilism through materialism or false idealism by Fred Hutchison, March 7, 2007.
