Full Idea
Belief in the categories of reason is the cause of nihilism - we have measured the value of the world against categories that refer to a purely invented world.
Gist of Idea
Nihilism results from measuring the world by our categories which are purely invented
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 11[99])
Book Reference
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.219
A Reaction
What a remarkable thought! He will have Kant especially in mind. The implication is that we might avoid nihilism by creating more accurate categories, but Nietzsche thinks that is impossible (Ideas 7174, 7175). Nihilism is our fate.
Related Ideas
Idea 7174 Categories are not metaphysical truths, but inventions in the service of needs [Nietzsche]
Idea 7175 Philosophers find it particularly hard to shake off belief in necessary categories [Nietzsche]