, PLS3709 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2
DUE DATE: 5 OCTOBER 2026
TOPIC 2: Nihilism, Nietzsche and the Social Nature of Private Property
Introduction
Nihilism is one of the most important and difficult concepts in modern philosophy because it
concerns the possibility that human life may lack objective meaning, value or purpose. The
term is commonly associated with the rejection of established moral, religious and social
values. However, nihilism is more complicated than simply believing that “nothing matters”.
In the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, nihilism describes a historical and cultural crisis
that emerges when previously accepted foundations of meaning lose their authority.
Christianity, traditional morality and metaphysical beliefs had provided European societies
with an understanding of why human beings existed and how they ought to live. Nietzsche
argued that the decline of these foundations created a dangerous vacuum in which people
could lose the ability to create and affirm values for themselves (Nietzsche, 1974).
This raises an important question concerning Nietzsche's own position. Was he an arch-
critic of nihilism who attempted to overcome it, or was he one of its strongest advocates
because he challenged traditional morality and rejected objective values? Nietzsche can be
interpreted in both ways, but his philosophy is ultimately better understood as an attempt to
diagnose, confront and overcome nihilism rather than simply promote it. He regarded
nihilism as a serious danger that followed from the collapse of traditional values. His
response was not to restore the old values but to encourage the creation of new values that
affirm life, creativity and human potential (Nietzsche, 1967).
The question of meaning and value also connects with broader questions about human
social life. Karl Marx's critique of private property focuses on a different problem: the
organisation of economic life and the consequences of capitalist ownership. Marx argued
that human beings are fundamentally social and productive beings. People develop
DUE DATE: 5 OCTOBER 2026
TOPIC 2: Nihilism, Nietzsche and the Social Nature of Private Property
Introduction
Nihilism is one of the most important and difficult concepts in modern philosophy because it
concerns the possibility that human life may lack objective meaning, value or purpose. The
term is commonly associated with the rejection of established moral, religious and social
values. However, nihilism is more complicated than simply believing that “nothing matters”.
In the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, nihilism describes a historical and cultural crisis
that emerges when previously accepted foundations of meaning lose their authority.
Christianity, traditional morality and metaphysical beliefs had provided European societies
with an understanding of why human beings existed and how they ought to live. Nietzsche
argued that the decline of these foundations created a dangerous vacuum in which people
could lose the ability to create and affirm values for themselves (Nietzsche, 1974).
This raises an important question concerning Nietzsche's own position. Was he an arch-
critic of nihilism who attempted to overcome it, or was he one of its strongest advocates
because he challenged traditional morality and rejected objective values? Nietzsche can be
interpreted in both ways, but his philosophy is ultimately better understood as an attempt to
diagnose, confront and overcome nihilism rather than simply promote it. He regarded
nihilism as a serious danger that followed from the collapse of traditional values. His
response was not to restore the old values but to encourage the creation of new values that
affirm life, creativity and human potential (Nietzsche, 1967).
The question of meaning and value also connects with broader questions about human
social life. Karl Marx's critique of private property focuses on a different problem: the
organisation of economic life and the consequences of capitalist ownership. Marx argued
that human beings are fundamentally social and productive beings. People develop
