nihilists

Nihilists are individuals or viewpoints associated with nihilism, a broad philosophical and cultural position that involves doubt about or rejection of meaning, value, or objective truth. The term comes from the Latin nihil, meaning "nothing," and entered modern usage in the 19th century, notably in Russian intellectual circles and later in Western philosophy.

There are several strands commonly linked to nihilism. Moral nihilism holds that moral values are not objectively valid. Epistemological nihilism questions whether knowledge or justified belief is possible. Existential nihilism contends that life lacks inherent meaning or purpose. Metaphysical nihilism raises questions about the objective structure of reality or the existence of inherent essences. Political nihilism refers to movements that reject established authorities and social norms, sometimes advocating radical reform or destruction. Religious nihilism questions or denies religious beliefs or divine claims.

Historically, the term gained traction in 19th‑century Russia, where some radicals were labeled nihilists for their rejection of religion and autocratic authority. In philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche analyzed nihilism as a crisis produced by the erosion of religious and metaphysical certainties and explored possibilities for overcoming it. In contemporary discourse, nihilists are discussed as adherents of a stance characterized by skepticism about absolutes, though many thinkers seek constructive responses that affirm subjective meaning, creative value, or plural frameworks without appealing to universal foundations. Nihilism also appears in literature, art, and film as a mood or motif associated with doubt, cynicism, or existential possibility.