Nihilism : the philosophy of nothingness / James Biser Whisker, John R. Coe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Whisker, James B., 1939- author.

Coe, John R., author.

Series:

World Philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nihilism (Philosophy)--History.

Nihilism (Philosophy).

Nihilism--History.

Nihilism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (256 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : Nova Science Publishers, [2021]

Summary:

Nihilism is a highly negative system of thought with roots in early Greek philosophy. It came into prominence as a major movement with Friedrich Nietzsche's unparalleled assault on Christianity and Christian morality. It became a dominant theme in the dark philosophical system known as existentialism, and thus became an important force in nineteenth century literature and in twentieth century ideologies. It seeks destruction of one or more aspects of society without offering a viable alternative, frequently assuming that the better world will automatically appear after the old world is obliterated. Loathing the building blocks of the present system, nihilism asserts that the better world will be composed of new, but unspecified, components. French philosophy during and after the French Revolution, and virtually all nineteenth century Russian literature, was dominated by nihilism. German Nazism had a nihilistic base which was carefully concealed by racist rantings. Marxism, with so many of its ideas stolen from Russian and French nihilists, proclaimed that faulty economics brought about misery and poverty which would be eradicated by the new but unspecified and undescribed socialist ethic. Revolutionary systems in the twentieth century have delved heavily into the rich trove of nihilist literature to promote, describe, and espouse revolutions which have marked much of that century. Few contemporary nihilists have offered any new insights into reality, choosing only to manipulate the basic concepts heretofore advanced. But the earlier nihilistic ideas have become an all-inspiring training primer for nihilists of future polities. To understand the philosophy of nihilism is to understand the revolutions that have continued to challenge modern societies.

Contents:

Defining nihilism

Nietzsche : godfather of nihilism

Revolution of nihilism

The uprooted and disinherited

French nihilism

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

Russian nihilism

Chernyshevskii : what is to be done?

Nechayev and the science of destruction

Tkachev

Some famous nihilists

Franz Fanon

Regis Debray

Nihilism in Black America.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-5361-9802-1

OCLC:

1256260354