Nihilism vs Cynicism - What's the difference?
nihilism | cynicism |
(philosophy) A philosophical doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life.
(ethics) The rejection of inherent or objective moral principles.
(politics) The rejection of non-rationalized or non-proven assertions in the social and political spheres of society.
(politics, historical) A Russian movement of the 1860s that rejected all authority and promoted the use of violence for political change.
The belief that all endeavors are ultimately futile and devoid of meaning.
Contradiction (not always deliberate) between behavior and espoused principle, to such a degree that all possible espoused principle is voided.
The deliberate refusal of belief, to the point that belief itself is rejected as untenable.
(uncountable) a distrustful attitude
(uncountable) an emotion of jaded negativity, or a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of other people. Cynicism can manifest itself by frustration, disillusionment and distrust in regard to organizations, authorities and other aspects of society, often due to previous bad experience. Cynics often view others as motivated solely by disguised self-interest.
(countable) a skeptical, scornful or pessimistic comment or act
As a noun nihilism
is (philosophy) a philosophical doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life.As a proper noun cynicism is
the philosophy of the greek cynics.nihilism
English
Noun
- "...the band members sweat hard enough to earn their pretensions, and maybe even their nihilism " (rock critic Dave Marsh, reviewing the band XTC's album Go )
Derived terms
* (l) * (l)Synonyms
* (belief that all endeavours are void ) fatalismExternal links
* * English words suffixed with -ismcynicism
English
Noun
- David T Wolf: "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."
