The Evolution of Nihilism | Philosophy for Sleep

From ancient skeptics to Nietzsche's "death of God," from existentialist responses to today's cultural nihilism. We explore what nihilism actually means, where it succeeds, where it fails, and how to live with (or beyond) it.

🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The true origins of nihilistic thinking (Ancient India, Greece, Early Modern Europe)
Nietzsche's diagnosis: Why "God is dead" changed everything
The varieties of nihilism: Epistemological, moral, existential, political
Existentialist confrontations: Kierkegaard, Sartre, Camus, Heidegger
How nihilism shaped the 20th century (World Wars, totalitarianism, postmodernism)
Real-world manifestations: Politics, culture, social media, capitalism
Powerful critiques: Where nihilism fails and self-refutes
Contemporary scholarly debates and cutting-edge philosophy
How to live authentically in a potentially meaningless universe

📚 KEY THINKERS COVERED:
Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Sartre, Camus, Heidegger, Dostoevsky, Stirner, Schopenhauer, Cioran, and contemporary philosophers

🎓 WHO THIS IS FOR:
Philosophy students and enthusiasts
Anyone grappling with meaning and purpose
People interested in existentialism and meaning-making
Those who want to understand modern cultural crises
Anyone tired of superficial takes on deep topics

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:43 The Seeds of Nothing, Ancient and Early Modern Roots
00:09:44 The Explosion, Nineteenth Century Nihilism
00:16:14 Nietzsche's Diagnosis, The Death of God and Its Consequences
00:24:47 The Varieties of Nihilism, Mapping the Terrain
00:35:07 Existentialist Confrontations, Wrestling With Meaninglessness
00:47:03 Twentieth Century Developments, Fragmentation and Radicalization
00:58:11 Political, Social, and Cultural Manifestations, Nihilism in Practice
01:13:05 Critiques and Where Nihilism Fails, The Limits of Nothingness
01:27:26 Contemporary Scholarly Debates, Where Nihilism Stands Now
01:41:52 Living With and Beyond Nihilism, Conclusion