Does atheism imply nihilism? If so, how?

Question

No, fireball, this is totally NOT trolling. Just because you don't know a word doesn't mean it's in the wrong place, or trolling.

Answer 1

I have to say it does. If I am no more than evolved bacteria what is my basis for right or wrong?To say morality is human nature (as an earlier answerer did) doesn't make sense to me without a higher power. My fear for the future is that if the time comes when those with a memory of religious morals die off and "born & raised" atheists come to ascendancy human life will be a vile hell of opression by the "fittest". That's the logical conclusion. Current atheists have merely coopted from memory.Voltaire didn't want atheism discussed around his servants knowing that they were more honest as believers.I can see worse things than nihilism coming from trying to escape God.Could evolution be true without a master race?

Answer 2

I think if you examine and compare the definitions of the two terms below, you will conclude tthe opposite of what you have asked. It seems that nihilism imples atheism. While nihilism applies or covers knowledge and beliefs about every thing, atheism only applies or covers the area of knowledge and beliefs about God or gods. Nihilism is extreme skepticism about the nature of all things in human experience, atheism is skepticism limited to the the nature of a god or gods. As has been stated by some other answerers, while All nihilists are necessarily atheists, All atheists are not necessarily nihilists. Only some atheists are nihilists and the decision to be atheists came from their nihilism. You can also put it this way: all atheists are limited or partial nihilists, while all nihilists by definition are definitely atheists. Keep in mind, when I say this that there are some people who are confused and may think erroneously that all atheists are nihilists. Such an erroneous conclusion does no fit the definitions of the terms.

"Nihilism :Complete rejection of the existence of human knowledge and values or denial of the possibility of making any useful distinctions among things.

Recommended Reading: Stanley Rosen, Nihilism: A Philosophical Essay (St. Augustine, 2000) {at Amazon.com}; Simon Critchley, Very Little—Almost Nothing: Death, Philosophy, Literature (Routledge, 1997) {at Amazon.com}; Karl Lowith, Martin Heidegger and European Nihilism, ed. by Richard Wolin and Gary Steiner (Columbia, 1998) {at Amazon.com}; and David Levin, The Body's Recollection of Being: Phenomenological Psychology and the Deconstruction of Nihilism (Routlege, 1990) {at Amazon.com}.

Atheism:
Belief that god does not exist. Unlike the agnostic, who merely criticizes traditional arguments for the existence of a deity, the atheist must offer evidence (such as the problem of evil) that there is no god or propose a strong principle for denying what is not known to be true.

Recommended Reading: Antony Flew, Atheistic Humanism (Prometheus, 1993) {at Amazon.com}; Atheism, ed. by S. T. Joshi (Prometheus, 2000) {at Amazon.com}; Michael Martin, Atheism: A Philosophical Justification (Temple, 1992) {at Amazon.com}; and J. J. C. Smart and J. J. Haldane, Atheism and Theism (Blackwell, 1996) {at Amazon.com}.



Also see SEP, Theodore M. Drange, EB, Fredrick Benz, ColE, Emma Goldman, and ISM.

I obtained the definition of the two terms from an online source: A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms
and Names. see: http://philosophypages.com/dy/ix1.htm#a

TWH 06082007-2

Answer 3

Here is a definition of nihilism for those too lazy to use a dictionary or even google "Nihilism: A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated." The implication of nihilism is that there can be no ethics or morality. I know very few, if any, atheists that would hold this opinion.

Answer 4

No atheism doesn't imply nihilism. An atheist doesn't suggest not to believe in anything. Atheism is about being skeptical in the existence of a god or gods. Nihilism in the other hand suggest that there are no absolutes.

Answer 5

It potential which you and Zora are the two dopes. Atheism implies purely a loss of concept in a deity. this is it. human beings could have faith in a purpose for existence and nevertheless be atheists. they only does not think of that purpose is god given. you are going to be an existential nihilist and be an atheist, too, for sure, even though it incredibly is not a call for.

Answer 6

I think that nihilism implies atheism, but not the other way round.

Answer 7

nope. nihilism, while is does mean not believing there is proof for a god, also means that there is no true morality. just because i don't believe in god doesn't mean i don't believe that within our human nature are inherent ideas of morality. we know inherently, without being taught, that certain things are wrong. it's human nature. no god involved. that does not make me a nihilist.

Answer 8

I think that many believers -- especially those who have been believers all of their lives -- associate "not believing in God" to "not believing in anything". They automatically assume that for the non-religious, life holds no meaning and everything is worthless.

Considering that I've not always been a Christian, I realize that it is possible to find contentment and purpose in the natural aspects of life -- family, giving to others, appreciating the world -- and that "meaning" does not have to come from a higher power. I lived most of my years without faith and I still tend to view "the meaning of life" in terms of what happens here on earth, not what happens after I die. Getting into heaven is not the meaning of life.

Answer 9

wow im an atheist and i am listening to the kmfdm album nihil right now odd isnt it?

Answer 10

No it does not. Atheism is no belief in god. Nihilism is no belief in anything!