Single Idea 7847

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

Full Idea

Nietzsche's first presentation of nihilism is an existential affair arising from cosmic problems, but he later stressed nihilism as a historical and cultural problem of values, where mankind's highest values reach a point of devaluation.

Gist of Idea

Initially nihilism was cosmic, but later Nietzsche saw it as a cultural matter

Source

report of Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885]) by Keith Ansell Pearson - How to Read Nietzsche Ch.1

Book Reference

Ansell Pearson,Keith: 'How to Read Nietzsche' [Granta 2005], p.9


A Reaction

The second version seems to imply a quasi-Marxist determinism about social progress. Then you would have to ask, what is the point of fighting against it? I wonder if Nietzsche's values are anti-nihilist, but his metaethics makes nihilism unavoidable?