Nihilism

:This article is about the philosophical position. For the Russian political and revolutionary movement, see Nihilist movement.

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Nihilism as a philosophical position is the view that the world, and especially human existence, is without meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. It is more often a charge levelled against a particular idea than a position to which someone is overtly subscribed. Movements such as Dada, Deconstructionism, and Punk have been described by various observers as "nihilist". Nihilism is also a characteristic that has been ascribed to time periods: for example, Baudrillard has called postmodernity a nihilistic epoch, and some Christian theologians and figures of authority assert that modernity and postmodernity represent the rejection of God, and therefore are nihilist.

Related Topics:
Philosophical - Human - Truth - Dada - Deconstructionism - Punk - Baudrillard - Postmodernity - Christian - Modern - Postmodern

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Prominent philosophers that have written on nihilism include Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger. Nietzsche described Christianity as a nihilistic religion, because it removed meaning from this earthly life, and focused instead on a supposed afterlife. He also saw nihilism as a natural result of the idea that "God is Dead", and insisted that it was something to be overcome, by returning meaning to the earth. Heidegger described nihilism as the state where "there is nothing left of Being as such", and argued that nihilism rested on the reduction of being to mere value.

Related Topics:
Friedrich Nietzsche - Martin Heidegger

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