Nihilism

Nihilism

1. With the demise of God, Western culture may collapse into a paralysed melancholy

   • When we find out that the world does not posses objective value and meaning we want, we find ourselves in a crisis - Nietzsche
   • Ubermensch prevents nihilism

2. God gives us meaning, any meaning is better than none.

   • God fills a void, no room for nihilism.
     • Deconstruction commonly labelled nihilistic because it denies our ability to know truth - Derrida
   • Overcome by the free spirit/ubermensch

3. Rejection of all moral and religious principles in the belief that life is meaningless.

   • Extreme skepticism, nothing in the world has real existence
   • Comes from Latin word 'nihil' meaning nothing.

4. Philosophy is part of a drive to make sense of the world. To give it value for individuals.

   • Philosophy is already the normal state of man - Heidegger.

5. Myth of Sisphyus is a superb metaphor of human existence - Camus

   • Metaphysics is nihilistic - Heidegger.

6. Surpressing individuality to the point where an individuals uniqueness becomes non-existent and nothing meaningful about his existence can be affirmed. - Kierkegaard

7. Active nihilism is a sign of strength, wiping out of old values to lay down ones own beliefs. Overcomes passive nihilism.

   • Nothing concrete, no absolute truth
   • Nihilism is a result of twisted dynamics in Christian culture
   • Human beings must attempt to be God like to overcome nihilism.
     • Nihilism can be embraced and bring about tranquility - Ernst Junger