Philosophy Stack Exchange
Philosophy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [nihilism]

Nihilism is a type of philosophical view that variously considers life as without objective meaning or without intrinsic value.

The following are some sources for a philosophical view of nihilism:

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Is faith necessary for man to survive / why is existentialism valued if it is unsubstantiated?

I'd like to point out that I have basically no knowledgeable background in philosophy, but this question has been troubling me as of late, and I need an informed take on this. I was watching a video by Dr. Jordan Peterson, a professor of psychology…
sangstar
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How come nihilism is so popular today?

I've been trying to attack this question (or more precisely, come up with an answer to that fact) for some time now, but after a while of research I'm suddenly not so sure of the reason the situation is as it is. I used to think that nihilism today…
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Do humans need some agency over the world around them for their lives to have some sense or purpose?

This is a follow up to this question I was told to revise: If all work is automated, what will humans be able to do? After consideration I think that the only way to salvage that question is to break it up into more questions, so this is the first…
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Why do people who subscribe to self-refuting skeptical philosophies still argue with others?

The belief that everything is relative is obviously self-refuting, because it holds to an absolute. However, in my experience, people who believe this (or some form of it) such as some Buddhists and atheistic materialists, or people who have an even…
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Could it be possible that the universe doesn't exist?

Could it be possible that the universe doesn't exist? That nothing exists, not even you or me? And by not existing, I mean totally not existing, as in not even existing as a computer simulation, or a holographic projection, or a dream by a God. Not…
just a lil kid
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Why and how is Camus "against nihilism"?

I see in several sources that Camus is "against nihilism"(though there are also a few that state he utilizes elements of nihilism), however, (Sorry for referring to Wikipedia. Didn't have enough time to dive into more original research) The…
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What is the point of Human Existence?

I have no experience in formal philosophy, so I apologise for the crudeness and generalism of everything I say here. The Issue-: Every time I try to motivate myself by logically connecting the activity I'm performing (eg.studying) with my end goal,…
NithilanRavikumar
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Arguments for moral realism?

I would like to hear some good arguments for moral realism. Most that I find online is based on "If you don't believe in objective values, then murder is okay". While this might seem frightening, I don't think it proves anything. Believing in…
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Does extreme nihilism endorse suicidal behavior?

Nihilism lacks any belief in moral values. Then, if taken to its extreme form, does nihilism prescribe to a belief in no purpose for existence at all? If nihilism has no objective value system, does it mean that existence itself has no value for a…
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Does human progress ultimately reduce individuals to Nietzsche's last men?

Human progress – technological, scientific, social, etc. – seeks to reduce, and ultimately totally eliminate, the aspects of life we perceive as unpleasant – loss, tragedy, suffering ... However, an argument can be made that we require a possibility…
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Doesn't nihilism contradict itself?

Doesn't nihilism contradict itself? I mean, and correct me if I am wrong, nihilism say there is no meaning and no value to it all. But saying so it is making an affirmation which has value and meaning. I therefore think that absolute nihilism…
sebataz
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Moral nihilism?

I have two main worries, which are drawn from Nagel and Mackay for their expression, though I think I agree with neither of these philosophers. First I will sketch my idea about right and wrong, incase my question depends on it. Let "value" be a…
user6917
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Was Nietzsche against hedonism?

At first, I think there is a difference between utilitarianism and hedonism in that first assumes some kind of utility which can be calculated and last simply puts that it's natural (we are not here for critique of what "natural" means, I just…
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Does postmodernism entail nihilism?

Postmodernism characterizes mainly as the view that there's no objective truth, no objective moral values, and that logic and reason are socially constructed concepts. These seem to me to be characteristics that align quite well with nihilism. So,…
Yechiam Weiss
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Nietzsche a Reluctant or Triumphant Atheist?

I remember once reading some literature in which Nietzsche was classified as a reluctant atheist. The piece made the point that in Thus Spoke Zarathustra Nietzsche seems to be bemoaning the perceived reality of atheism rather than rejoicing in it.…
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