Nihilism's Influence: Origins, Types, and European Culture

Nihilism and the Death of God

The Genesis of Nihilism

The widespread notion that the decline of philosophy does not mean one should ignore the various philosophical theories of the past, or try to substitute other ideas, ultimately seeks an in-depth examination of the shift from philosophy. To see that this mode, involved in the genesis of language that governed culture and common European customs, justifies the examination and appraisal of that genealogy. This leads to the realization that the search for the permanent is insufficient to express life.

Knowledge of the truth is unsatisfactory; its adoption, ingrained in old Judeo-Christianity, reinforces this. This means that the language included nothing definite or scientific, as there is no immovable philosophical basis.

What is Nihilism?

The term Nihilism comes from the Latin word nihil, meaning "nothing." It suggests that the lack of a metaphysical foundation in knowledge or moral evaluation is constant across all theories, leading nowhere to impose idealism. Nihilism, therefore, is more than a Christian doctrine; it is the assertion of the fate that has befallen European culture, an inevitable conclusion.

The expressive nihilistic fate of European culture can be seen in two modern phenomena:

• The Predominance of Slave Morality: In which slave morality generally prevailed over that of the masters.
• The Practical Disregard for the Death of God: Often exhibited by Christian teachings philosophically bent on proving rationally that God exists.

Types of Nihilism

One clearly distinguishes between two main types:

• Pessimistic Nihilism: Characteristic of those left crushed by the constancy of God's death, who proceed as if this had not happened.
• Optimistic or Creative Nihilism: This type assumes no resentment. Being forced to live is typical of those governed by the master morality. It renounces not creating but cannot fall back despite assurances or rationale that God is dead.

Nihilism's Impact on European Civilization

Now, if nihilism is the inescapable destiny of so-called European civilization, what will prevent humanity from living and valuing in accordance with what is proper to human life?