INTRODUCTION

Existential nihilism is a facet of the broader philosophical concept nihilism. The Oxford
English Dictionary (n.d.) defines nihilism as the “total rejection of prevailing religious
beliefs, moral principles, laws, etc., often from a sense of despair and the belief that life
is devoid of meaning” . Whereas Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines nihilism as “a viewpoint
that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded, and that existence is senseless and
useless” , “a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral
truths” , and “the belief that traditional morals, ideas, beliefs, etc., have no worth or
value. Despite these definitions, any rigorous understanding of nihilism runs into what
many Scholars have diagnosed this as the long-standing problem of nihilism’s
conceptual muddiness (Carr, 1992; Crosby, 1988; Tartaglia & Llanera, 2021).
Historically, the term ‘nihilism’ has been used in a variety of ways.Historically, the term
‘nihilism’ has been used in a variety of philosophical, literary, and political contexts,
often relying on definitions that are, as a result, contextual. According to Crosby (1988),
the uses of ‘nihilism’ have fallen prey to a number of assumptions that have only served
to further obfuscate the meaning of the term. Indeed, ‘nihilism’ is commonly used
without providing a clear and concise definition, “assuming that its meaning [is] already
apparent or that it would become clear in context” (Crosby, 1988, p. 8). Of the
definitions that have been provided for ‘nihilism’, not only is there no particular definition
that is unanimously accepted (Carr, 1992), there has also been a lack of consensus
about the term’s conceptual parameters,
with scholars’ definitions ranging from narrow to broad (Crosby, 1988). This is not
surprising. For one, a real tradition of literature dedicated to nihilism does not exist
(Carr, 1992). Existential nihilism is a philosophical concept that posits the
meaninglessness and absurdity of human existence. Scholars have grappled with the
idea of existential nihilism for centuries, and it continues to be an area of ongoing
debate and inquiry. This paper provides an overview of existential nihilism, its origins,
development, and contemporary significance. The paper also explores different
philosophical perspectives on existential nihilism, including Nietzsche's rejection of
nihilism and Camus's affirmation of the absurd.

Origins and Definition of Existential Nihilism

Existential nihilism is rooted in the philosophical notion of nihilism, which is the rejection
of moral, religious, and social values. The term nihilism comes from the Latin word nihil,
which means nothing or the absence of being. Existential nihilism takes this concept
one step further by claiming that human existence is inherently meaningless and without
purpose. According to existential nihilism, life is ultimately absurd and pointless.
Philosophical Perspectives on Existential Nihilism
There are numerous philosophical perspectives on existential nihilism. Friedrich
Nietzsche rejected nihilism and instead proposed the concept of the will to power.
Nietzsche believed that humans must create their own values in the absence of a divine
or objective morality. For Nietzsche, life is a constant struggle for power and
self-realization, not a meaningless existence devoid of purpose.

Albert Camus, on the other hand, embraced the absurdity of existence and argued that
humans must confront the void of meaninglessness head-on. Camus believed that the
very act of confronting the absurdity of life was an act of rebellion and a rejection of
nihilism. Camus asserted that meaning and purpose must be found within oneself,
rather than in external sources such as religion or society.

Existential Nihilism and Contemporary Society

Existential nihilism continues to be an area of philosophical inquiry and debate,
especially in contemporary society. Numerous factors may contribute to the rise of
existential nihilism, including the decline of traditional religion, the erosion of moral
values, and the existential challenges posed by rapid technological change and social
upheaval.