Nihilism and its Relationship to the Death of God - Report Example

Nihilism and its Relationship to the Death of God Introduction Nihilism represents a philosophy of negation for all forms aestheticism. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote a great deal of literature concerning nihilism; however, critics argue that Nietzsche did not advocate nihilism, but he was concerned about the effects of nihilism on society and culture. The fundamental basis of nihilism constitutes the entire rejection of both social sciences and classical philosophical systems. Nihilism advocated utilitarianism and scientific rationalism. Utilitarianism is a moral framework that proposes doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Scientific rationalism deals with providing valid reasons to support arguments for them to be considered true. Nihilism aimed at negating all authority practiced by the state, church and family by representing a form of positivism and materialism comprising of a revolt against the established social order (Hibbs 23). Nihilists believed primarily on scientific truths for finding solutions to social problems; according to Nietzsche, science was the cure for all social problems since it eliminated ignorance that caused evil in societies. It is critical to understand the meaning and historical background of nihilism in order to recognize the relationship between nihilism and the death of God. Historical Background of Nihilism Thinkers such as Herbert Spencer, Henry Buckle, and Charles Darwin initially influenced nihilists’ thinking. Nihilists denied the duality of human beings as a combination of both body and soul. The combination of body and soul implied that human life consisted of spiritual and material substance. Nihilists questioned the doctrine of divine right, leading to widespread conflicts between them and the secular authorities. The conflict between fathers and sons heightened because nihilists were opposed to social bonds and family authority (Hibbs 33). Nihilists were interested in scientific proves rather than believing in unseen powers. Thus, the belief in God became an impossible aspect among the nihilist communities. Nietzsche could be viewed as an advocate of nihilism in the descriptive sense since he did not believe in real substance to traditional social, political, moral, and religious values. The reason for denial of these values was founded on lack of objective validity and imposition of binding obligations for human beings. Nietzsche concluded that lack of these values could cause negative consequences among people. According to Nietzsche, values and morality of the past did not have same influence on people as they once did. Hibbs classifies Nietzsche as a nihilist because he viewed most people in his society as effective nihilists (26). This made him announce the “death of God” based on the argument that traditional source of transcendental value, God, does not matter in modern cultures; thus, the concept of God was effectively dead among humankind. The Elements of Nihilism and the Death of God Nietzsche introduced the concept of nihilism by recognizing that the death of God would create a moral vacuum. A moral vacuum would involve creation of a world characterized by lack of sense of morality caused by absence of a supreme being to judge immorality in society. Nietzsche was considered a nihilist in the normative sense because he considered the “death of God” as an ultimately good thing to humankind. According to Nietzsche, traditional moral values particularly from stemming from traditional Christianity were ultimately harmful to humanity (Pasha 272). Nietzsche’s era constituted a period of nihilism where traditional values had stopped making sense, putting philosophy in a state of crisis. The universe, therefore, would be rendered meaningless in the face of philosophical crises. According to Nietzsche, objection of Christianity was the core of the modern sickness. Nietzsche implied that most problems experienced in the world during his time resulted from widespread denial of Christianity that limited from observance of morality. The belief in Christianity would lead to moral devaluation among the coming generations to cause false spirituality and create additional values embodying destructive values of morality. Nietzsche’s conclusion of his Antichrist reveals the extent of his disagreement to Christianity. “I call Christianity the one great curse” constituted one of his most remarkable concluding sentences. Nietzsche believed that Christianity is “one great intrinsic cause of deprivation and the greatest instinct for revenge.” Nietzsche based his arguments in the pleasure principle. Freud’s psychoanalytic theory posits that the pleasure principle is the motivating factor of the Id that seeks immediate gratification for all urges, needs, and wants. According to Pasha, the pleasure principle strives to satisfy human beings’ most basic and primitive urges such as anger, sex, thirst, and hunger regardless of the morality of the method of achieving satisfaction (279). Failure to satisfy the needs leads to a state of anxiety or tension. Christianity concentrates on strict morality and limits people from seeking immediate gratification (Hibbs 28). Aspects of Christianity such as fasting, self-sacrifice, and self-denial lead to tensions caused by unsatisfied needs. Nietzsche believed that human beings will continue suffering from resulting tensions due to lack of knowledge. This made him to call Christianity “one immortal blemish of mankind.” The death of God was believed to open up exciting possibilities for human beings. God’s death would allow people lead their lives to the fullest without further constrains. However, this death would also create a great despond because human beings would not exist without attributing meaning to their lives. The belief in God was the fundamental element that gave humankind a sense of origin and destiny. Life would still be meaningless if people do not comprehend their origin and their final destination after life in the universe (Hibbs 43). Therefore, people would become dejected and lose confidence, leading to a state of unhappiness and low sprits. The moral thought from moral philosophers caused fear that though God might be dead, His shadow might remain on the walls of caves for tens of decades. Moral thoughts from Kantian’s frameworks of utilitarianism of happiness and contemporary political demands ranging from democracy liberalism to socialism ideas of equality constituted the reworked forms of Christian eschatology (Cate 51). Nihilists were concerned with both killing God and conquering his shadows as well. Nihilists believed that the roots of moral malaise existing in the modern world are caused by the triumph of Christianity over the Greeks. The victory, according to Nietzsche, caused the trans-valuation of the ideas of morality, and of good and bad in the society. Proper comprehension of this trans-valuation necessitated extensive study of historical background of moral thinking. Nietzsche believed that the past held the key to the present and the future. However, Nietzsche seems to hold different believes concerning the past and the present evidenced by the way he attacks traditional Christianity (Pasha 277). The argument that the past values should be replaced by new values implies Nietzsche’s call for transformation. Perhaps the relationship between the past and the present in Nietzsche’s literature meant that people had understood the ramifications associated with the past beliefs by studying the past, and there was need for change. Nietzsche closely imagines the world without perfect source of absolute and transcendent values, and concludes that this kind of world cannot have any values at all. Nietzsche counter-argues his own argument by positing that lack of such universal values does not mean the absence of any values at all. The only way Nietzsche beliefs he can give hearing to mutually exclusive viewpoints is by freeing himself from the ties constraining him to a single perspective, particularly absolute believe in God. This can give him an opportunity to consider the truthfulness of other values. Absolute believe in God could make human beings consider perspectives true regardless of them being inappropriate and invalid in particular perspectives (Cate 41). The only way the world could be made a better place for human survival was through removing the primary support for traditional Christianity, which could lead to its downfall; according to nihilists, this could be a good thing for the society. The society could be allowed to consider a variety of viewpoints suitable for specific perspectives. The Relationship between Nihilism and the Death of God Nihilism and the death of God are closely related. Existential nihilism argues that life does not have objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic purpose. The argument that morality does not inherently exist implies that there is no authority controlling the affairs of human beings. In addition, moral nihilists assert that morality does not inherently exist; all established morals are considered abstractly contrived. Nihilism is sometimes used in explaining the mood of despair at a perceived pointlessness of existence that one may develop when they realize the absence of necessary norms, rules, and laws. The death of God implies the disappearance of all moral values, norms, and laws that govern the universe. The Christian community believes that God provides for all their needs, and thus gives them the code of conduct to govern them in their daily relationship with the world. Nietzsche claimed that humankind has not yet fully understood the ramifications of the modern rejection of belief in God. According to Nietzsche, the death of God would undermine the all values of human beings (Hibbs 12). Nietzsche, however, argued that human beings might cling to some values such as compassion and truth even in the absence of God or any other justificatory foundation for those values. Nietzsche further argued that if human beings truly appreciate the meaning of the death of God, they would lapse into nihilism, which would render them unable to find values in the world. The fundamental idea in Nietzsche’s argument constitutes the justification of the relationship between the death of God and nihilism (Cate 55). Appreciating the idea of death of God would cause nihilism; the world would lack God, transcendent values, morals and purpose. The world would, therefore, lose meaning and become inhabitable for humankind. Conclusion The decline of traditional Christianity and the rise of traditional decadence have made nihilism a major characteristic of the modern age. Nietzsche believed that nihilism is the primary cause of most problems experienced in the modern age. The fear of God prevents people from engaging in social disorder because they do not have to fear about its repercussions. According to Nietzsche, nihilism empties the world, particularly human existence of meaning, essential values, purpose, and comprehensive truth. Overcoming nihilism has the potential for giving cultures true foundations upon which they thrive. There is a close relationship between Nihilism and the death of God. If people appreciate the death of God, they will reject moral values of society, and be rendered nihilists. Therefore, the death of God constitutes the primary cause of nihilism, especially if people accept it. Works Cited Cate, Curtis. Friedrich Nietzsche. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 2005. Print. Hibbs, Thomas S. Shows About Nothing: Nihilism in Popular Culture. Waco, Tex: Baylor University Press, 2012. Print. Pasha, Mustapha K. "Islam, Nihilism and Liberal Secularity." Journal of International Relations and Development. 15.2 (2012): 272-289. Print. Read More