Nihilism

The word “nihilist” was originally a term of abuse. The earliest known record of the time it was used was during the French Revolution. Another meaning for “nihilist” is someone of no significance in society and particularly civil life. The meaning of nihilist underwent changes, and for a long time it continued to be looked at as an equivalent for “good-for-nothing” Nihilism was a movement of young people with faith. When the nihilists protested against morality. They did so in the name of goodness. They exposed the lies of idealistic principles, but did so in a non harmful way. Webster defines nihilism as "A doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility". A German philosopher, named 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. Nihilism derives its name from the Latin root //nihil,// meaning nothing, //that which does not exist.// 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. Nihilism is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.

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