|
like most philosophical debates this one ends in semantics. nihilism can be taken to mean belief in nothing at all at one extreme or it can only mean belief in no inherent values which do not predicate on biological and social prerequisites. it's a continuum of belief or better yet the lack thereof. one saying one's self is a nihilist is fairly useless although i have done it myself. honestly, the term is best used for name calling and slander. it's a label perfectly illustrated in the big lebowski. was hitler a nihilist? under some definitions he was. under another definition it could be said that hitler had very strong beliefs. do i agree with them? no. that doesn't change the fact that he had beliefs. just like master shake said above, there is definitely room in a nihilist structure to have healthy ethics based on the realization that we are going to live for quite some time and so are our relatives and friends. i think nihilism is a dangerous term and can be a very popular belief used by the uneducated to justify carnal immediate desires. in a more contemplative atmosphere it can explain a lot and help an individual such as myself achieve happiness.
|