Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

German ''Nihilismus'', from [[Latin]] ''nihil'' nothing

German ''Nihilismus'', from [[Latin]] ''nihil'' nothing

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1817]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1817]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1a : a [[viewpoint]] that traditional [[values]] and [[beliefs]] are unfounded and that [[existence]] is senseless and useless

*1a : a [[viewpoint]] that traditional [[values]] and [[beliefs]] are unfounded and that [[existence]] is senseless and useless

'''Nihilism''' (pron.: /ˈnaɪ.ɨlɪzəm/ or /ˈniː.ɨlɪzəm/; from the [[Latin]] ''nihil'', nothing) is the philosophical [[doctrine]] suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of [[life]]. Most commonly, ''nihilism'' is presented in the form of [[existential]] nihilism, which argues that life is without objective [[meaning]], [[purpose]], or intrinsic [[value]]. Moral nihilists assert that [[morality]] does not [[inherently]] exist, and that any established moral [[values]] are abstractly contrived. ''Nihilism'' can also take [[epistemological]] or metaphysical/ontological forms, meaning respectively that, in some aspect, [[knowledge]] is not possible, or that reality does not actually exist.

'''Nihilism''' (pron.: /ˈnaɪ.ɨlɪzəm/ or /ˈniː.ɨlɪzəm/; from the [[Latin]] ''nihil'', nothing) is the philosophical [[doctrine]] suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of [[life]]. Most commonly, ''nihilism'' is presented in the form of [[existential]] nihilism, which argues that life is without objective [[meaning]], [[purpose]], or intrinsic [[value]]. Moral nihilists assert that [[morality]] does not [[inherently]] exist, and that any established moral [[values]] are abstractly contrived. ''Nihilism'' can also take [[epistemological]] or metaphysical/ontological forms, meaning respectively that, in some aspect, [[knowledge]] is not possible, or that reality does not actually exist.

The term ''nihilism'' is sometimes used in association with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomie anomie] to [[explain]] the general [[mood]] of [[despair]] at a perceived pointlessness of [[existence]] that one may develop upon realising there are no [[necessary]] norms, rules, or laws. [[Movements]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(art) Futurism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction], among others, have been identified by commentators as "nihilistic" at various times in various [[contexts]].

The term ''nihilism'' is sometimes used in association with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomie anomie] to [[explain]] the general [[mood]] of [[despair]] at a perceived pointlessness of [[existence]] that one may develop upon realising there are no [[necessary]] norms, rules, or laws. [[Movements]] such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(art) Futurism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction], among others, have been identified by commentators as "nihilistic" at various times in various [[contexts]].

''Nihilism'' is also a characteristic that has been ascribed to time periods: for example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard Jean Baudrillard] and others have called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism postmodernity] a nihilistic [[epoch]], and some Christian theologians and figures of religious [[authority]] have asserted that postmodernity and many aspects of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism modernity] represent a [[rejection]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theism theism], and that rejection of their theistic [[doctrine]] entails ''nihilism''.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism]

''Nihilism'' is also a characteristic that has been ascribed to time periods: for example, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard Jean Baudrillard] and others have called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism postmodernity] a nihilistic [[epoch]], and some Christian theologians and figures of religious [[authority]] have asserted that postmodernity and many aspects of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism modernity] represent a [[rejection]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theism theism], and that rejection of their theistic [[doctrine]] entails ''nihilism''.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]