Does nihilism come from Nietzsche?

Nihilism is often associated with the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who provided a detailed diagnosis of nihilism as a widespread phenomenon of Western culture. Though the notion appears frequently throughout Nietzsche's work, he uses the term in a variety of ways, with different meanings and connotations.

Did Nietzsche come up with nihilism?

While few philosophers would claim to be nihilists, nihilism is most often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche who argued that its corrosive effects would eventually destroy all moral, religious, and metaphysical convictions and precipitate the greatest crisis in human history.

How did Nietzsche define nihilism?

According to Nietzsche, this state of nihilism – the idea that life has no meaning or value – cannot be avoided; we must go through it, as frightening and lonely as that will be.

Where did nihilism come from?

nihilism, (from Latin nihil, “nothing”), originally a philosophy of moral and epistemological skepticism that arose in 19th-century Russia during the early years of the reign of Tsar Alexander II.

Who was the founder of nihilism?

Nihilism has existed in one form or another for hundreds of years, but is usually associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th century German philosopher (and pessimist of choice for high school kids with undercuts) who proposed that existence is meaningless, moral codes worthless, and God is dead.

Nihilism Explained - (Friedrich Nietzsche)

How does Nietzsche overcome nihilism?

To overcome nihilism, we must search for a philosophy that allows us to create value in a world devoid of inherent meaning. Nietzsche presents his own solution to the problem of nihilism. In his view, it is possible for man to rise above his weakened stature and create meaning in a world with no absolutes.

When did Nietzsche become a nihilist?

Nietzsche is a self-professed nihilist, although, if we are to believe him, it took him until 1887 to admit it (he makes the admission in a Nachlass note from that year). No philosopher's nihilism is more radical than Nietzsche's and only Kierkegaard's and Sartre's are as radical.

What did Nietzsche believe?

In his works, Nietzsche questioned the basis of good and evil. He believed that heaven was an unreal place or “the world of ideas”. His ideas of atheism were demonstrated in works such as “God is dead”. He argued that the development of science and emergence of a secular world were leading to the death of Christianity.

What was Nietzsche's religion?

And while many simply regard Nietzsche as an atheist, Young does not view Nietzsche as a non-believer, radical individualist, or immoralist, but as a nineteenth-century religious reformer belonging to a German Volkish tradition of conservative com- munitarianism.

Was Dostoevsky a nihilist?

Dostoyevsky urged Russians to rediscover their native roots and Christian Orthodox ideals, eschewing the Western ideologies that he saw as infecting Russian society. Through his novel Crime and Punishment, Dostoyevsky targeted Russian nihilism that had taken a hold of the Russian youth.

What philosopher came up with nihilism?

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900): A German philosopher who lived during the nineteenth century, Friedrich Nietzsche associated nihilism and nihilistic tendencies with Western culture. His point of view on nihilism was that it took away any inherent meaning from human beings.

What does Nietzsche consider today's nihilism?

Remember that today's nihilism is “one of transparency.” Commodities are obscene in their legibility — their visible essence being their price — because “the message which the objects deliver is radically the same — their exchange value,” so that in each commodity the logic of the structure imposes itself (EC 27).

What is Nietzsche most known for?

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his writings on good and evil, the end of religion in modern society and the concept of a "super-man."

Did Nietzsche read the Bible?

As the only descendant of two dynasties of Protestant ministers, Nietzsche learned to read from the Bible, in Luther's translation, which he inherited from his father and used for the rest of his life.

Why did Nietzsche reject Christianity?

Nietzsche's case against Christianity was that it kept people down; that it smothered them with morality and self-loathing. His ideal human is one who is free to express himself (yes, he's sexist), like a great artist or a Viking warrior. Morality is for the little people. It's the way the weak manipulate the strong.

Why is Nietzsche an atheist?

Nietzsche is linked to atheism due to his harsh critique of the Christian God. In his works, like Thus Spoke Zarathustra and The Will to Power, Nietzsche asserted that Christianity, its God, and its rules are irrelevant. To become a 'Superman,' or an Übermensch, man must throw off all such things.

Who did Nietzsche admire?

Nietzsche was also an admirer and frequent reader of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Among the German poets, he greatly admired and mentioned in his works Friedrich Hölderlin and Heinrich Heine.

What did Friedrich Nietzsche say about God?

Without a God, the basic belief system of Western Europe was in jeopardy. "God is dead" remains one of the most famous quotes from the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

Did Nietzsche believe in free will?

Power of will

In Beyond Good and Evil Nietzsche criticizes the concept of free will both negatively and positively. He calls it a folly resulting from extravagant pride of man; and calls the idea a crass stupidity.

Was Nietzsche a capitalist?

In the realm of economics, Nietzsche opposed socialism, calling it “the tyranny of the meanest and most brainless.” But he was not enamored of capitalism either. He looked down on commercial society and did not recognize the marketplace as a domain, like art and war, that is worthy of the overman.

Is Existentialism a nihilist?

For Camus, the entire purpose of Existential philosophy is to overcome absurdity, or, more accurately, for man to triumph over the absurdity of existence. So Existentialism is the opposite of nihilism: the nihilist says "There is no god, no heaven or hell, so screw it: there can be no right or wrong.

How difficult is it to read Nietzsche?

Nietzsche is one of the most difficult thinkers in the Western canon to think through. This is both in spite and because of his brilliant literary powers.

What type of philosopher is Nietzsche?

Nietzsche was a German philosopher, essayist, and cultural critic. His writings on truth, morality, language, aesthetics, cultural theory, history, nihilism, power, consciousness, and the meaning of existence have exerted an enormous influence on Western philosophy and intellectual history.

Is post modernism a nihilism?

Postmodernism as a mode of thought is often accused of being nihilistic, and postmodernity is often seen as a nihilistic state of society. An in-depth analysis of the connection between nihilism and the postmodern, however, is rarely given, and postmodernists themselves rarely respond to the charge.

Was Jean Baudrillard a nihilist?

In the early phase of his career, Baudrillard both identifies a form of religious nihilism in consumer society, and – arguably – exhibits a form of religious nihilism in his own thought through the idea of symbolic exchange.