Difference between revisions of "Nihilism"

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'''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 [[morality|moral]], [[religion|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.
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'''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]], before he went insane, 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>
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{{cquote|What is government if words have no meaning?}}
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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:
*'''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.''"
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*'''[[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]].
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*'''Existential nihilism''' is the notion that life has no meaning or purpose.<ref>http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm</ref> See also: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
*'''Moral nihilism''' rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with [[moral relativity|moral relativism]].{{fact}}
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*'''Existential nihilism''' is the notion that life has no meaning or purpose.<ref>http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm</ref>
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*'''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]].
 
*'''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]].
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*'''Moral nihilism''' rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with [[moral relativity|moral relativism]].{{fact}}
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*'''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]].
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*'''[[Pragmatism]]''' is the belief that rejects philosophical principles, and that ideas should be measured not if they are right or wrong, but by whether they work. <ref>https://www.prageru.com/video/which-one-are-you-ideologue-or-pragmatist/</ref>
  
 
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.
 
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==
 
==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.
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What Nietzsche truly meant by this is much debated even today, and Nietzsche himself would be disgusted with moral relativists.
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[[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==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
==See Also==
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==See also==
[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.
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*[[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]] (look under "New Liberal Terms")
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*[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.
  
[[category:philosophy]]
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{{Liberalism}}
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[[Category:Philosophy]]
 
[[Category:Anarchists]]
 
[[Category:Anarchists]]

Latest revision as of 03:58, August 29, 2020

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, before he went insane, 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."
  • Existential nihilism is the notion that life has no meaning or purpose.[3] See also: Atheism and meaninglessness
  • 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.
  • Moral nihilism rejects all moral or ethical values; this form of nihilism is identified with moral relativism.[Citation Needed]
  • 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.
  • Pragmatism is the belief that rejects philosophical principles, and that ideas should be measured not if they are right or wrong, but by whether they work. [4]

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

  1. http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm
  2. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/jared-lee-loughner-friend-voicemail-phone-message?page=1
  3. http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm
  4. https://www.prageru.com/video/which-one-are-you-ideologue-or-pragmatist/

See also