Nihilism

by Bulent Diken

This book addresses the genealogy and consequences of nihilism, attempts at 'sociologizing' the concept of nihilism by relating nihilism to capitalism, post-politics and terrorism, and considers the possibilities of overcoming nihilism.

Genres: Philosophy

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Brandon]

Very good, though it presupposes a lot of background knowledge, especially in Deleuze & Guattari. Illustrative, helpful, some useful schemas.

On the other hand, I still cannot figure out how there are FREQUENT recourses to Žižek, Zupančič, and Lacan, who would HATE the conclusions Diken comes to! I mean, he's defending Nietzche and Deleuze & Guattari—and as such, some of the really, really obvious criticism (and which I obviously don't have an answer to)—why aren't Nietzsche's illusions just "les non-dupes errent"? Why are D&G the products of May '68, and not Foucault (Nietzsche's other famous heir)? Why isn't this "creative destruction" just another "I know very well, but all the same..." kind of cynicism, *which is even discussed at length in the text*? Why is the Will not just a metaphysical illusion—all these questions and more are not broached.

Still a great discussion and I definitely recommend it.

[Malihe63]

ترجمه بدی داشت و متن کتاب هم گیج کننده بود

[ehk2]

I don't like Diken's main argument about Michel Houellebecq's novels, since I see a highly 'liberating'/positive aspect/potential in them. In addition, I don't see Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Climates as a so-much relevant case for investigating contemporary nihilism (one could possibly find much better movies -given the fact that the author has already another book relating cinema with sociology).

[Özgür Tekin]

Bülent Diken, kitabındaki çoğu referansı büyük keyifle takip ettim dostum. Bir de şu filmlerle ilgili yazdığın sosyoloji kitabına göz atayım.

[Oğuzcan Önver]

“Nihilist, dünyayı olduğu haliyle yargılayan insandır, zira öyle bir dünyanın ya olmaması gerekir ya da dünyayı olması gerektiği haliyle yargılar, ki öyle bir dünya da yoktur.” Pasif nihilistlerle savaşımız radikal nihilistler olarak bizi artık zorlamıyor.