Existential Nihilism Doctrine

An Existential Nihilism Doctrine is a nihilistic doctrine that posits universe is meaningless.

• Context:
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  • It can be considered a response to the existential questions raised by the recognition of life's impermanence and the vastness of the universe.
  • It can influence various forms of art and literature, particularly in the genres of existentialist and absurdist fiction.
  • It can intersect with the concept of Absurdism, which acknowledges the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the universe's indifferent nature.
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• Example(s):
  • Cosmic Indifference and Human Insignificance-based Existential Nihilism, such as:
    • in Lucretius (c. 50 BC)'s "De Rerum Natura," where he presents a materialistic and atomistic view of the universe, emphasizing the absence of divine purpose and the randomness of existence.
    • in Zhuangzi (c. 3rd century BC)'s "Zhuangzi," where the indifference of the cosmos and the impermanence of life are central themes, suggesting that searching for meaning in life is futile.
    • in Blaise Pascal (1670)'s "Pensées," where he reflects on the "infinite nothingness" of the human condition and the void that arises in the absence of divine purpose.
    • in Richard Dawkins (1976)'s "The Selfish Gene," where the theory of evolution is presented in a way that strips away notions of purpose and meaning in life, emphasizing genetic determinism and survival.
    • in Thomas Ligotti (2010)'s "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race," which presents a pessimistic view of human existence, arguing that consciousness is a cruel mistake.
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  • Absurdity and Futility of Human Existence-based Existential Nihilism, such as:
    • in Sophocles (c. 429 BC)'s "Oedipus Rex," where the inevitability of fate and the futility of human effort underscore a nihilistic view of life’s meaninglessness.
    • in Albert Camus (1942)'s "The Myth of Sisyphus," where the futile and repetitive task of Sisyphus is used as a metaphor for human life’s inherent absurdity.
    • in Samuel Beckett (1953)'s "Waiting for Godot," where characters wait endlessly and without purpose, embodying the existential nihilist idea of life’s absurdity.
    • in Franz Kafka (1915)'s "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial" (1925), where characters face overwhelming, incomprehensible forces, symbolizing a meaningless and indifferent world.
    • in Jean-Paul Sartre (1938)'s "Nausea," where the protagonist experiences profound discomfort at the arbitrary and meaningless nature of existence.
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  • Emptiness of Modern Life and Society-based Existential Nihilism, such as:
    • in Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864)'s "Notes from Underground," where the narrator grapples with the meaninglessness of life and the futility of human actions.
    • in Don DeLillo (1985)'s "White Noise," where the constant barrage of media and technology numbs characters to the point of existential crisis, reflecting the nihilism inherent in contemporary society.
    • in Bret Easton Ellis (1991)'s "American Psycho," where the protagonist's nihilistic worldview is reflected in his violent and detached behavior, emphasizing the emptiness of modern consumer culture.
    • in Chuck Palahniuk (1996)'s "Fight Club," where the narrator and Tyler Durden reject societal norms and materialism, exploring themes of existential nihilism through the deconstruction of identity and purpose.
    • in Michel Houellebecq (1998)'s "Atomised," where the characters’ disillusionment with modern life leads to a bleak portrayal of human existence as fundamentally meaningless.
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  • Transience and the Search for Meaning-based Existential Nihilism, such as:
    • in Seneca the Younger (c. 63 AD)'s "On the Shortness of Life," where he reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the futility of human endeavors.
    • in William Shakespeare (c. 1600)'s "Hamlet," particularly in the famous soliloquy "To be, or not to be," where Hamlet contemplates the pointlessness of life and the inevitability of death.
    • in Herman Melville (1851)'s "Moby Dick," where Captain Ahab’s obsession with the white whale represents humanity's futile quest for meaning in an indifferent universe.
    • in T.S. Eliot (1925)'s "The Hollow Men," which captures the despair and sense of purposelessness characteristic of existential nihilism.
    • in Haruki Murakami (2002)'s "Kafka on the Shore," where characters grapple with existential dilemmas and the concept of fate in a surreal and often indifferent world.
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• Counter-Example(s):
  • Existentialism.
  • Utilitarianism.
  • Humanism.
• See: Ethics, Metaphysics, Meaning (Existential), Meaning of Life, Existential Risk, Disprove That the Universe Is Meaningless Ambition.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_nihilism Retrieved:2024-8-19.
  • Existential nihilism is the philosophical theory that life has no objective meaning or purpose. The inherent meaninglessness of life is largely explored in the philosophical school of existentialism, where one can potentially create their own subjective "meaning" or "purpose". The supposed conflict between our desire for meaning and the reality of a meaningless world is explored in the philosophical school of absurdism. Of all types of nihilism, existential nihilism has received the most literary and philosophical attention.

2014

• (Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/existential_nihilism Retrieved:2014-10-6.
  • Existential nihilism is the philosophical theory that life has no intrinsic meaning or value. With respect to the universe, existential nihilism posits that a single human or even the entire human species is insignificant, without purpose and unlikely to change in the totality of existence. According to the theory, each individual is an isolated being born into the universe, barred from knowing "why", yet compelled to invent meaning. The inherent meaninglessness of life is largely explored in the philosophical school of existentialism, where one can potentially create his or her own subjective "meaning" or "purpose". Of all types of nihilism, existential nihilism gets the most literary and philosophical attention.

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