Pessimistic Evaluation of Life and the Advent of Nihilism

Nietzsche describes nihilism as the conviction that life has no meaning and the world is inhospitable to our hopes and values. This sentiment of despair leads to the belief that life is not worth living. Nietzsche argues that this nihilistic position is antithetical to life and a sign of decline. He explains why nihilism has become prevalent in the modern West and how it represents the ultimate logical conclusion of dominant worldviews.