Critiques of nihilism
  • fleamont
    1
    Hello all,
    TLDR: I need criticisms of nihilism
    I’m currently writing an essay on the question “is nihilism is an inherently pessimistic philosophy?” I’m arguing that it’s not, however, to have a balanced argument i want to explore some criticisms of nihilism. I’m having difficulty finding any that aren’t just along the lines of “why don’t nihilists kill themselves if life is meaningless” and was hoping people here might have suggestions of strong criticisms I could use or know of any philosophers who opposed it.
    Thanks :))
    fleamont Options
  • Frankin
    4
    Meaning is not an intrinsic aspect of nature. Purpose is an intrinsic aspect of nature.
    But you can Fabricate meaning from purpose.
    Frankin Options
  • Gus Lamarch
    924
    “is nihilism is an inherently pessimistic philosophy?” — fleamont

    I think we can all agree that Nietzsche has already proved this point being wrong...
    Gus Lamarch Options
  • schopenhauer1
    11k
    ↪Gus Lamarch

    As a pessemist, I bristle at trying to distance from this accurate philosophy. Read more Schopenhauer, less Nietzsche .

    Whoops, really meant for
    ↪fleamont
    schopenhauer1 Options
  • Gus Lamarch
    924
    Whoops, really meant for ↪fleamont — schopenhauer1

    :up:
    Gus Lamarch Options
  • counterpunch
    1.6k
    Nihilism upholds no value that requires one accept nihilism!
    counterpunch Options
  • TheWillowOfDarkness
    2.1k
    ↪Gus Lamarch


    Nietzsche is anti-nilhism. His major point is that life itself is valuable and nihilism has a much longer history than just when people grew critical if religious or traditional accounts of meaning-- that nihilism begins not when we no longer have God to give meaning, but rather from the point in which we thought we were meaningless such that God would have to give our life meaning.
    TheWillowOfDarkness Options
  • Valentinus
    1.6k
    ↪fleamont

    The reason why you are having trouble locating those arguments is that "nihilism" is not a set of beliefs such as a Methodist might entertain.
    There are plenty examples of opponents of an idea who charged some other group with embracing it as an idea. Thinkers like Nietzsche said it was a result of promising a certain order of things while not being able to deliver the results.
    I need a list of self identified nihilists to respond intelligently.
    Valentinus Options
  • Gus Lamarch
    924
    Nietzsche is anti-nilhism. — TheWillowOfDarkness

    "I praise, I do not reproach, [nihilism's] arrival. I believe it is one of the greatest crises, a moment of the deepest self-reflection of humanity. Whether man recovers from it, whether he becomes master of this crisis, is a question of his strength!" - Friedrich Nietzsche, "The Gay Science"

    It is only when nihilism is overcome that a culture can have a true foundation upon which to thrive. He wished to hasten its coming only so that he could also hasten its ultimate departure.

    Nihilism against itself! Genius!
    Gus Lamarch Options
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