Emily Inglis

What is it?

“Every belief, every considering something

true, is necessarily false because there is simply

no true world” (Will to Power, Nietzsche)

Cont’d

ALL ORDER AND VALUESWERE CREATED BY HUMANS

FAITH AND LOYALTIES HAVE NO MEANING

ONE’S ACTIONS DO NOT IMPACT ONE’S FUTURE

The History

Demosthenes (371-322 BCE) and Skeptics Denies the Existence of Certainties Comes from Latin Nihil- that which does not

exist Michael Barkunin = “Founder of Nihilism” Ivan Turgenev 1862- “Fathers and Sons” Nietzsche 1883-1888- “Will to Power”

Types of Nihilism

Epistemological: denies knowledge and truth; extreme skepticism.

Ethical (moral): no absolute moral or ethical values.

Existential : life has no intrinsic meaning or value.

Political: political, social, and religious orders must be destroyed to improve.

Context in Russia, 19th Century Industrial Revolution

Wealth Redistribution Switch from Agrarian Society

Urbanization End to Feudalism Overpopulation

Conclusion: The only way to reform is to destroy

Nihilism in Russia

Associations with Russian Revolutionary movement 1860-1917

Movement eliminated powerful figures from inside Czar Alexander II

Created Chaos in Russian Government: Instability led to Russian Revolution,

1917

Crime and Punishment

Raskolnikov confronts idea that: Ethical Nihilism: no good or evil Existential Nihilism: life has no value If no one finds out there is no retribution

Nihilism is associated with FREEDOM.