Single Idea 7198

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism]

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, as relativist, 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]