The New Nihilism

The Existential Crisis of Our Time

By Costantino Esposito | Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

About the book

In this highly engaging book, Costantino Esposito argues that nihilism is not merely the loss of the classic values of the Western tradition—rather, it presents a critical opportunity to ask pertinent, timely questions about the meaning of self and the world.

Nihilism is a problem that has troubled the culture, philosophy, and worldview of people and societies for more than a century—a problem that seemed, thanks to the advance of cultural relativism, to have become an obvious and globally shared condition. However, in recent years, the conversation around nihilism has begun to change. The questions that nihilism once declared impossible to answer—questions about the ultimate meaning of self and reality, the truth of the person and history, our desire to understand ourselves in relation to the infinite—are reemerging in today’s culture and proving to be profound, reasonable, and of vital importance.

In its classical form, nihilism is the loss of values and ideals, but its modern iteration manifests as an irreducible need: more basic but far more challenging. Esposito suggests that rather than being an obstacle, nihilism can become an opportunity to search for true meaning for our experiences in the world. With philosophical rigor, he intercepts and narrates this new phenomenon, focusing on social trends, poetic voices, philosophical and scientific visions, ethical problems, and aesthetic experiences. The New Nihilism unravels and makes sense of the real stakes of the existential crisis of our time.

Editions of The New Nihilism

Hardcover
ISBN 9780268207991
EBook
ISBN 9780268208011
EBook
ISBN 9780268207984

Read an Excerpt

In this highly engaging book, Costantino Esposito argues that nihilism is not merely the loss of the classic values of the Western tradition—rather, it presents a critical opportunity to ask pertinent, timely questions about the meaning of self and the world.

Nihilism is a problem that has troubled the culture, philosophy, and worldview of people and societies for more than a century—a problem that seemed, thanks to the advance of cultural relativism, to have become an obvious and globally shared condition. However, in recent years, the conversation around nihilism has begun to change. The questions that nihilism once declared impossible to answer—questions about the ultimate meaning of self and reality, the truth of the person and history, our desire to understand ourselves in relation to the infinite—are reemerging in today’s culture and proving to be profound, reasonable, and of vital importance.

In its classical form, nihilism is the loss of values and ideals, but its modern iteration manifests as an irreducible need: more basic but far more challenging. Esposito suggests that rather than being an obstacle, nihilism can become an opportunity to search for true meaning for our experiences in the world. With philosophical rigor, he intercepts and narrates this new phenomenon, focusing on social trends, poetic voices, philosophical and scientific visions, ethical problems, and aesthetic experiences. The New Nihilism unravels and makes sense of the real stakes of the existential crisis of our time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The New Nihilism about?

In this highly engaging book, Costantino Esposito argues that nihilism is not merely the loss of the classic values of the Western tradition—rather, it presents a critical opportunity to ask pertinent, timely questions about the meaning of self and the world.

Nihilism is a problem that has troubled the culture, philosophy, and worldview of people and societies for more than a century—a problem that seemed, thanks to the advance of cultural relativism, to have become an obvious and globally shared condition. However, in recent years, the conversation around nihilism has begun to change. The questions that nihilism once declared impossible to answer—questions about the ultimate meaning of self and reality, the truth of the person and history, our desire to understand ourselves in relation to the infinite—are reemerging in today’s culture and proving to be profound, reasonable, and of vital importance.

In its classical form, nihilism is the loss of values and ideals, but its modern iteration manifests as an irreducible need: more basic but far more challenging. Esposito suggests that rather than being an obstacle, nihilism can become an opportunity to search for true meaning for our experiences in the world. With philosophical rigor, he intercepts and narrates this new phenomenon, focusing on social trends, poetic voices, philosophical and scientific visions, ethical problems, and aesthetic experiences. The New Nihilism unravels and makes sense of the real stakes of the existential crisis of our time.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The New Nihilism?

Philosophy and Religion > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics and moral philosophy

Where can I read a sample of The New Nihilism?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780268207991

How long is The New Nihilism and how many pages does it have?

The New Nihilism has 480 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book The New Nihilism?

Costantino Esposito

Who is the Publisher of the book The New Nihilism?

University of Notre Dame Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

The New Nihilism is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780268207991) and ebook(ISBN 9780268208011) and ebook(ISBN 9780268207984)

Where can I buy The New Nihilism online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy The New Nihilism?