Join us in Auerbach 321 or online this Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., for our next meeting of the University of Hartford Philosophy Club as University Philosophy professor Brian Skelly presents his reflection, "Considering Nihilism as a Social Force."
Nihilism as a concept is denotatively thorny to the point of paradox, yet connotatively quite catchy. People more versed in the formal study of philosophy tend to shy away from it for denotative reasons, while others just getting their feet wet flock to it as a provocative, even attractive proposition. It is not rare, especially in more recent times, that those just becoming aware of my own connection to philosophy ask me about it excitedly. The conversation typically stalls, for reasons discussed below; yet I am left disheartened not to be able to bring their enthusiasm for nihilism to some meaning plateau. I have felt like I have been missing something.
Can this all be written off as some misguided Zeitgeist? In favor of this possibility is the recognition of nihilism’s emergence from the Existentialist movement of the nineteenth century, culminating most famously in Nietzsche, whose tongue-in-cheek style makes him difficult to interpret. It does have roots in classical Greek philosophy – or more precisely, sophism - in the person of Gorgias (483 to 378 BCE) who is famous for having said: “Nothing exists. If anything did exist it could not be known. If it was known, the knowledge of it would be incommunicable.” (https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-nihilism-history-250581).
After serious consideration, I turn down this suggestion, since nihilism, far from being monolithic, is represented in contrary or at least unrelated camps. Its predominant association has been with libertarianism, a socio-political movement focusing on maximizing liberty without social or legal constraint. Even though libertarianism has both left-leaning and conservative forms, it does not seem to capture or explain the occasional waves of anti-democratic, authoritarian fervor that many see to have their roots in nihilism as well; such as in the times in which we are currently living, which many have labeled as “post-truth politics”, a movement seemingly about as far from being inspired by existentialism than anything that can be imagined.
Nihilism is a troubling label in part because the movement or movements to which it may refer typically have one thing in common, which is resentment of self-definition or of being defined by others. Loosely speaking, it refers to attitudes more than beliefs and is not meant to be taken literally.
Part of the reason for this might come from the fact that is so hard to take nihilism literally, even enough to be able to figure out whether to believe in it or not….
The University of Hartford Philosophy Club has an informal, jovial atmosphere. It is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.
Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses.
Come and go as you wish. Bring friends. Suggest topics and activities. Take over the club! It belongs to you! Just show up! - Brian Skelly bskelly@hartford.edu 413-273-2273