However, this criticism of “Nietzsche and many other philosophers” is based on a misunderstanding of what Nietzsche and these many other philosophers were focused on in their analyses of nihilism, for it was precisely our ability to “carry on” that concerned Nietzsche and those who followed in his wake. Such philosophers did not think that nihilism was a statement of fact about reality, something about which one made truth claims. Rather nihilism was seen as a reaction to reality. Discovering life is meaningless is not nihilism for Nietzsche; rather discovering life is meaningless and yet going on with our lives anyway is nihilism. What Tartaglia views as the way to respond to nihilism—to stop being bored or anxious and just reimmerse ourselves in our daily lives—is precisely what Nietzsche meant by nihilism. In other words, what Nietzsche wants us to overcome is not what Tartaglia means by “nihilism” but rather what Tartaglia means by “life.”
Gertz, Nolen. Nihilism
Discover more from that needful sacrifice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
