nihilisms

Nihilisms refer to a family of philosophical positions that deny or suspend one or more fundamental aspects of meaning, value, or existence. The best-known varieties are existential nihilism (the view that life has no inherent meaning or purpose), moral nihilism (the claim that there are no objective moral values or truths), and epistemological nihilism (skepticism about knowledge or certainty). Political or cultural nihilism is sometimes discussed as a related but distinct tendency, emphasizing rejection of social norms, institutions, or traditional authority.

Historically, the term originated in 19th‑century Europe and is especially associated with Russian intellectual currents and the term nihilism in Turgenev’s 1862 novel. In philosophy, nihilism is often treated as a diagnosis of a crisis rather than a positive doctrine. Friedrich Nietzsche is a central figure who argued that the collapse of religious and metaphysical foundations could lead to nihilism, and who urged a reevaluation or revaluation of values. Other strands include skeptical and existential thinkers who grappled with how to live in a world without intrinsic meaning. Postmodern and some analytic approaches have reframed nihilism as either a stage to be overcome or a lens for critiquing grand narratives.

Critics of nihilism contend that it undermines motivation, ethical commitments, or social cohesion. Proponents sometimes defend nihilist insights as liberating, offering space for personal or creative meaning-making, or for critical inquiry free from absolute authorities. Nihilism thus remains a contested label applied across philosophy, literature, and cultural criticism.