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Full Idea
Jacobi was the first to philosophically employ the concept of nihilism.
Gist of Idea
Jacobi was the first philosopher to talk of nihilism
Source
report of Friedrich Jacobi (Letters to Fichte [1799]) by Simon Critchley - Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro Ch.2
Book Ref
Critchley,Simon: 'Continental Philosophy - Very Short Intro' [OUP 2001], p.26
A Reaction
Critchley explains that it was Jacobi's fear that Fichte was drawing nihilist conclusions from Kant's philosophy. This fear may be seen as the beginning of what is loosely called 'continental philosophy'. A worthy subject for thinkers...