In our last blog, we explored the intriguing realm of solipsism and touched on its potential to lead to ethical nihilism. Today, let’s dive deeper into the abyss of nihilism itself.
Nihilism, as defined by the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, is the belief that all values are baseless and nothing can be known or communicated. Delightful, isn’t it? The term stems from the Latin word “nihil,” meaning nothing. Friedrich Jacobi first used it to critique Immanuel Kant’s transcendental idealism—a doctrine suggesting that our perception of objects is shaped by the mind, yet we know nothing of their true substance. Jacobi criticized this, as he thought it was a one-way ticket to a Godless universe.
Then there’s Søren Kierkegaard, our Danish theologian, who believed that nihilism, or “leveling,” squashes individuality like a bug. He championed the idea that life has intrinsic meaning and warned us to steer clear of nihilism at all costs.
The term gained further prominence through Ivan Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons,” where his character Yevgeny Bazarov proudly wears the nihilist badge, scoffing at all societal norms. In Russia, nihilism became associated with a revolutionary movement that opposed the authority of the state, church, and family, advocating for a society based on rationalism and materialism. Despite the movement’s decline, “nihilist” became synonymous with anarchist groups.
Enter Friedrich Nietzsche, who is perhaps the philosopher most closely linked to nihilism. Nietzsche argued that there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we impose on it. He predicted this absence of meaning would be the most destructive force in history, a theme he melodramatically explored in his poem “The Will to Power.”
Nihilism branches out into several flavors of existential dread:
- Epistemological nihilism: Knowledge? What knowledge? It’s all meaningless. Knowledge does not exist, and if it doesn’t exist, our existence might as well be meaningless.
- Ethical nihilism: Good and bad? Does not actually exist. Morality and ethical values are a social construct.
- Existential nihilism: Suggests that life has no meaning or value. This is the form most people refer to when discussing nihilism today.
- Passive nihilism: Views nihilism as an end in itself, dismissing the pursuit of higher values.
- Political nihilism: Advocates for the destruction of political, social, and religious order, believing that no political views should be held.
Nihilism has influenced artists, philosophers, and social critics, some of whom used it to explain phenomena like the Nazi regime. If nihilism was to win, they say, we’d be knee-deep in chaos and despair.
Nihilism is undeniably daunting, often dragging souls into emotional pits. While true nihilists are rare, many of us have dabbled in nihilistic thoughts, making it an ever-relevant topic.
But hold on a second—let’s entertain the counterargument that nihilism is misunderstood and might not be as gloomy as it seems. Ever heard of optimistic nihilism? Check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14 to explore this idea further. Some argue that once you grasp that nothing matters, it’s liberating. Tripped and fell down the stairs? Failed a test? Didn’t win that game? Who cares? It’s all meaningless. Your suffering will be forgotten. However, this does mean that there is no universal principles, so we get to make our own. If there is no purpose, we get to dictate what that purpose is. Empowering, right?
Well, not so fast. While I agree that realizing that nothing ultimately matters can relieve the pressure of life’s failures and embarrassments, I think that this argument misses the point of what nihilism truly is. If you truly, and by truly I mean truly, believe nothing has meaning then your existence becomes meaningless, a void. So, why is believing in the true form of nihilism in any way liberating? Even your self-made principles are pointless. If every action is devoid of meaning, then what’s the point? Your happiness, your pain, your purpose, all swallowed by the void. How is that empowering?
Optimistic nihilism cherry-picks what’s convenient from nihilism and discards the rest. It’s not a wrong way to view life; in fact, it’s the perspective I resonate with most at the moment. However, calling it nihilism misses the point entirely.
I would say that optimistic nihilism takes some principles of nihilism and leaves what isn’t useful. I do not think that it is the wrong way to look at life. In fact, as of now, it is the view that I believe in the most. However, saying that this is nihilism is wrong because it misses part of the point.
Therefore, I would say that nihilism can be a dangerous view. However, reflecting on nihilism invites us to ponder our place in the universe and the significance we ascribe to our actions, which is something that everyone will do at some point. It is up to you to decide which thought you develop.