I relate more to this philosophy than any other. I am constantly reminded of humanity's failures on a daily basis, and personally think we have come as far as we can go and it is all downhill from here. Mankind kills more than any other living organism, we rape, starve, and abuse our own kind more than any other living thing. We are single handidly responsible for the current world problems, ranging from the weather all the way to war. Truly we have become nothing short of a pathetic existance, even with all the advances we have made we have taken far too many steps backwards.

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Nihilism – Abandoning Values and Knowledge
Nihilism derives its name from the Latin root nihil, meaning nothing, that which does not exist. This same root is found in the verb “annihilate” -- to bring to nothing, to destroy completely. Nihilism is the belief which:

labels all values as worthless, therefore, nothing can be known or communicated.
associates itself with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism, having no loyalties.
The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), is most often associated with nihilism. In Will to Power [notes 1883-1888], he writes, “Every belief, every considering something true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” For Nietzsche, there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. The objective of nihilism manifests itself in several perspectives:
Epistemological nihilism denies the possibility of knowledge and truth, and is linked to extreme skepticism.
Political nihilism advocates the prior destruction of all existing political, social, and religious orders as a prerequisite for any future improvement.
Ethical nihilism (moral nihilism) rejects the possibility of absolute moral or ethical values. Good and evil are vague, and related values are simply the result of social and emotional pressures.
Existential nihilism, the most well-known view, affirms that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.

Nihilism – A Meaningless World
Shakespeare’s Macbeth eloquently summarizes existential nihilism's perspective, distaining life:

Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more; it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
Philosophers’ predictions of nihilism’s impact on society are grim. Existentialist, Albert Camus (1913-1960), labeled nihilism as the most disturbing problem of the 20th century. His essay, The Rebel1 paints a terrifying picture of “how metaphysical collapse often ends in total negation and the victory of nihilism, characterized by profound hatred, pathological destruction, and incalculable death.” Helmut Thielicke’s, Nihilism: Its Origin and Nature, with a Christian Answer2 warns, “Nihilism literally has only one truth to declare, namely, that ultimately Nothingness prevails and the world is meaningless."


Nihilism – Beyond Nothingness
Nihilism--choosing to believe in Nothingness--involves a high price. An individual may choose to “feel” rather than think, exert their “will to power” than pray, give thanks, or obey God. After an impressive career of literary and philosophical creativity, Friedrich Nietzsche lost all control of his mental faculties. Upon seeing a horse mistreated, he began sobbing uncontrollably and collapsed into a catatonic state. Nietzsche died August 25, 1900, diagnosed as utterly insane. While saying Yes to “life” but No to God, the Prophet of Nihilism missed both.

Beyond the nothingness of nihilism, there is One who is greater than unbelief; One who touched humanity (1 John 5:20) and assures us that our lives are not meaningless (Acts 17:24-28).

1 Camus, Albert, The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt, Random House, Inc., New York, 1991.
2 Thielicke, Helmut, Nihilism: Its Origin and Nature, with a Christian Answer, Greenwood Press Reprint, Westport, CT, 1969.

http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/nihilism.htm

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Nihilism is the theory that meaning beyond the immanent is irrelevant.

Nihilism is the foundation of objectivism. Through removing external value one sees what is actually there, which, given the workings of the universe, has equal value and is thus equally impermanent.

Nihilism is beauty.

The brand of nihilism that we advocate is not merely a flippant rejection of societal norms or an angry reaction caused by being powerless under the weight of a capitalistic society whose leaders alone determine values, potentials and human futures based on their economic reward to those in power. Rather, our nihilism is a cautious and studied result in which every value asserted by society has been inspected and has never failed to ring hollow.


If the value of everything is arbitrary then are we not then free to determine these values for ourselves, free of coercion, and to then go our own course?

If the morals and values of the dominant class have no basis other than to reinforce their control and self-interests then aren't we free to ignore their concerns and instead do what serves us best?
We will be putting our study material on line in the coming months to encourage others to freedom from the meaningless and arbitrary social dogma that keeps us focused at our expense on providing for the interests of our leaders rather than for our own.

http://www.nihil.org/

It is a dangerous line to walk upon...

Can't be any worse off than walking down Main during rush hour...

True dat!

Where is it that you found in Albert Camus's Novel "The Rebel" that consist of any advocation of nihilism?

Have you ever read the book?

I do not believe the author suggested that Camus advocated nihilism... In fact, the OP suggests that he(Camus) despised the notion.

This is true as far as I've read, Camus despised the notion as far as I can tell. The links are provided at the end of each passage for further reading.

Im of the mind set that the step after affirming ones self as a nihilist is to get a rope and a chair and find someplace to hang ones self, otherwise it would just be an attempt to be cool and seem not to care.

To which nihilistic camp do subscribe?

Jeremy...



I also get this impression from many others. It seems as if a common view of nihilism is equatable to the common view of fatalism or strict determinism.

Ism shmizm...

Through the reading and thinking that I have done regarding nihilism the exposure to different conclusions has been had. I find that it(nihilism) is simply a matter of removing as many preconceptions as is possible when attempting to understand our perceptions, especially those which pre-apply meaning.

For me, the underlying premise exists without predermination of meaning for that which is being perceived through experience. It is the broadening of mind's ability to perceive without bias. The line of thought leaves out the concepts of intent, purpose, and reason when attempting to apply value to experience(s).

What I believe is a common misconception is summarized by the expression that you have given. I do not find that nihilism attempts to place no value upon things, nor can that even be done.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900),

One has to take in account at what time frame this philosopher did his writings. What Germany was going through at the time and why his thoughts provoked such thinking in the first place.

It is interesting to see a darker side of thoughts that don't pertain to most people when we live in a much more lazy and relaxed society compared to then.

Nihilism is for many a harsh philosophical reality that most don't want to read or hear about.

Interesting, I was just going off of the standard definition and the behavior of anyone I have known claiming to adore the concepts.

My current understanding of life holds no grounded warrant to believe in a transcendental cause(s) such as a deity or creator type 'figure-head'.

Nihilism - the term - paints a picture commonly riddled with negative implications and therefore differs greatly from my own conceptual understanding of that kind of thought life.


Nietzsche did not know how to separate personal perception from actuality... and it cost him his own sanity.

Permanence - now that's a word for a nihilist to banter with.

And 'external value'; exactly what is external value if not something to be percieved?

If something has 'external value', to even one person, then anyone can objectify the thing simply by not recognizing the value the 'thing' has to that one person.

Better to take that one person away and the thing would no longer have value - would it cease to exist? Or would only value cease to exist? Or would only perception cease to have meaning?

I don't know the answers, that's why I'm asking. What would a nihilist say then?

I LOVE CAMUS'S the stranger

Di states...



You and your 'trick' questions... Death.



I believe that it refers to a learned value. External meaning developed outside of one's own contemplation.



And...



The value would... the 'thing'?... all depends upon what it is. Perception always has applied meaning, does it not?



Nihilism, in it's original sense, dealt with man's inability to comfortably fill the 'holes' left in thought which were still being affected by the remnants of 'God'.

At least that is my understanding.

Hi Di

Hi Creative,

Thanks for the answers, more things to consider.