Why is nihilism considered dangerous by some people?

Question

Nihilism doesn't mean I don't care about anything. That would be apathy.

Answer 1

Nihilism means you don't believe in anything. That's considered dangerous because unlike almost any other belief system -- including atheism's secular humanism -- it doesn't endorse a system of ethics.

Answer 2

The only time nihilism becomes a dire problem, in my humble opinion, is when it becomes an inherent part of a political movement or a reactionary stance against something like global terrorism. To help support this idea, here is a quote on the subject from Wikipedia.

"Nihilism (From the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical position which argues that the world, especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. Nihilists generally assert some or all of the following: there is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator, a "true morality" is unknown, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no truth, and no action is known to be preferable to any other.[1] Nihilism is often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche. Although Nietzsche ridiculed Nihilism, he did so under the definition of Fatalism."

Once you become entrenched in the idea that your ideology has greater value than human life, then the world has a huge problem to handle. Suicide bombers are a good example of this. The fact that the U.S. is sending innocent people like Maher Arar to Syria to be tortured is also a good example of how a great democracy can so easily and so quickly slide down the slippery slope towards nihilistic thinking. In short, the "cause" becomes greater than the value system of the nation and human life itself.

Answer 3

WOW! Brings back memories. If I remember correctly, Nihilism was an attempt to wipe the slate clean -so to speak- between good and evil. I would not be apposed to this idea today. Lets all agree on some basic human rights and then debate religions. Separate religion from government, sounds good to me. I would like to make a bet, that at the end of the day, Jesus Christ will still be the master.
Master; meaning : Most experienced. Good question -

Answer 4

Wikipedia defines nihilism as follows:

Nihilism (From the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical position which argues that the world, especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value.

What's scary about this belief is that even life has no essential value. So many people would be afraid that a nihilist would be willing to sacrifice innocent human life for most any trivial reason. For example, a nihilist would see no moral objection to a person torturing and killing other people for his own sexual satisfaction.

Answer 5

Nihilism in Buddhism is dangerous because it's incorrect view. It's a denial of the existence of anything at all and it can lead to a depressed state, incorrect view of the Dharma, etc. which can, at best get you NO result, and at worst get you a bad result or some people actually go to the extremes of attempting suicide, not just in Buddhism either.

_()_

Answer 6

"only like Christians could denounce non secular extremism of the Westboro team" initially, you presume all nihilists will genuinely become murderers or carry out movements that have a unfavorable impact on society. Any Christian has the flexibility to alter into like a Westboro Baptist church member, in spite of everything they curiously enroll in the comparable uncomplicated non secular ideas, they only interpret it slightly otherwise. Nihilists, and atheists who're no longer nihilists interpret the international and morals otherwise. As an atheist who isn't a nihilist, i'm conscious that morals and movements have no objective meaning outdoors of human interactions, in spite of the undeniable fact that that does no longer advise i think of morals do no longer any meaning in any respect, or that they do no longer exist or should not be stated. Morals superior after generations of human interaction taught societies how superb to act with the intention to make existence as friendly as obtainable, and confident morals do replace for the period of societies, yet then that still contradicts the thought morals do no longer exist. i've got not had the urge to homicide a individual in the 1st place, yet whether a sane individual did, there are nonetheless issues different than the regulation, such because of the fact the impact on the family contributors of the guy who may be murdered, the impact on society as an entire, and the reality that human beings have empathy which might possibly reason maximum folk to hesitate. A nihilist who feels morals and movements are meaningless and that does no longer have any urge to homicide human beings, does no longer bypass out and homicide human beings besides only for the hell of it, on the grounds that they sense that is pointless. A psychopath might, yet then no longer all nihilists are psychopaths, and not all psychopaths are nihilists the two.

Answer 7

ni·hil·ism (n-lzm, n-) KEY

NOUN:

Philosophy
An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief.
The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.
also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid 19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.
Psychiatry A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin nihil, nothing; see ne in Indo-European roots + -ism

OTHER FORMS:
nihil·ist (Noun), nihil·istic (Adjective), nihil·isti·cal·ly (Adverb)

Answer 8

Because some people think that morality requires there to be meaning in the world, and thus that nihilism implies there is no basis for morality.

I think they are wrong. Morality need not have a basis in the world, outside our minds -- actually, I think it cannot.

Answer 9

Nihilism does mean that there are no values of importance. No values - no society. That doesn't mean all people who are atheists are nihilists in their ethics. It does mean (to me) that for society at large it is dangerous if nihilism becomes normal.

Answer 10

Because they figure that if nothing is purposeful or meaningful, that morality becomes a non issue. Without a sense of reason, they fear that people would become monsters.

What they fail to understand is, nihilist or not, no one wishes to experience genuine agony (a masochist takes pleasure from pain, so this is not agony to him), and in order to have the best chance to avoid it, we must act moral even if morality is a moot point entirely.

Nihilist or not, we still build societies to protect ourselves. A social contract is still valid even under the nihilistic philosophy.

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The Dude: Not all atheists are humanists.