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nihilism

noun
/ˈnaɪ.(h)ɪ.lɪz.m̩/UK/ˈnaɪ.əˌlɪz.m̩/US/ˈnaɪ.(h)ɪ.lɪ.z(ə)m/UK/ˈnaɪ.əˌlɪ.z(ə)m/US

Etymology

Probably borrowed from French nihilisme, German Nihilismus, or Late Latin nihilismus; the French, German, and Latin words are derived from Latin nihil (“indefinite nothing”), from nihilum (“nothing”), from ne- (prefix negating the principal meaning) + hīlum (“a trifle; not in the least”). The English word is cognate with Italian nichilismo, Spanish nihilismo, Russian нигили́зм (nigilízm), philosophical doctrine grounded on negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; emptiness; lack of education and cultural refinement.

  1. derived from nihil — “indefinite nothing”
  2. borrowed from nihilismus
  3. borrowed from Nihilismus
  4. borrowed from nihilisme

Definitions

  1. The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning.

  2. The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral…

    The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral principles, legal rules, etc., often due to the view that life is meaningless (sense 1).

    • [T]he dire portent of Nihilism, which some persons regard as little more than an extreme protest against absolutism in Government, [...] is an execrable conspiracy against all religion and morality.
    • Most Christians cannot embrace such radical extremes as the current nihilisms that deny all spiritual and ethical truth. How can a Christian look to Jesus Christ and deny that there is truth? He is the truth.

  3. The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political…

    The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political spheres of society.

  4. ›+ 5 more definitions

    1. A delusion that oneself or the world, or parts thereof, have ceased to exist.

      • Individuals with schizophrenia often cycle between nihilistic and solipsistic moods—when in the grip of nihilism they appear to have lost experiential contact with their very existence, [...]
      • Melancholia is the most typical and classical presentation of depression with several compelling features such as impoverishment of emotional life and delusions of nihilism or guilt.

    2. Alternative letter-case form of Nihilism (“a Russian movement of the 1860s that rejected…

      Alternative letter-case form of Nihilism (“a Russian movement of the 1860s that rejected all authority and promoted the use of violence for political change”).

    3. A doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life

      A doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; in particular, the view that nothing in the world actually exists.

    4. Something that is regarded as meaningless.

      • This mock reasoning proves that those deliberately making use of it are, during the process, insane; inasmuch as they are attempting to reason by means of suppositions, by means of nihilisms, negative quantities.

    5. A movement of the 1860s that rejected all authority and promoted the use of violence for…

      A movement of the 1860s that rejected all authority and promoted the use of violence for political change.

The neighborhood

Derived

antinihilism, existential nihilism, moral nihilism

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for nihilism. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA