Nihilism & Existentialism
Existential Nihilism & Existentialism
Various definitions of each appear on the reverse
Life has no intrinsic
meaning or value.
There is no order in life except
what we give it. All social rules are
the arbitrary invention of man and have
no other origin.
Nothingness is the source of absolute freedom as
well as existential horror and emotional anguish.
Life is, according to Camus, an “eternal useless
struggle”, which creates an absurd situation.
Nihilists continue to live even though living
holds no purpose or value.
Has been called the greatest crisis in humanity
since it holds no meaning in the cherished and
sacrosanct beliefs and truths of society. Many
Philosophers understand that Western
Civilization is already in advanced stages of
decay due to the prevalence of forms of
Nihilism: those who shatter ideals; those who
watch ideals crumble before them; and
those who withdraw from their presence
into himself.
*Nihilism has also been identified with a
Russian revolutionary movement
(1860-1917), which why Nihilism
is often associated with anarchy
and extremism.
from “Nihilism” by Alan Pratt
Difficult to define,
since many of those who
have been defined as Existentialist
have denied the assignation.
Obsessed with how to live one's life and
believe that philosophical and psychological
inquiry can help.
Believe that there are certain questions that
everyone must deal with (if they are to take life
seriously) such as the value of human existence,
the meaning of value, the place of self-
reflective conscious knowledge, if there is a
plan, if there is a God his place in human
existence, etc.
Free will, the human power to do or not to do, is
considered absolutely obvious and is essential
to the philosophic landscape of Existentialism.
Human knowledge is understood to be limited
and fallible, which means that each action is a
risk of some sort since it can affect the whole
world.
Every action is considered of any
weight is considered a moral
decision. By one’s acts one
begins to define and
create the self.
from “What is Existentialism” by Bob Corbett
