As we watch the invasion of Ukraine in horror, we wonder what could possess Putin to use force so ruthlessly and indiscriminately. At least part of the answer lies in a philosophy of life that runs back through many other despots and finds it roots in the writings on Nietzsche. In this episode, Stan and JP discuss how pervasive the philosophy of Nihilism has come to be in shaping our daily lives, from the individual to the global level.
In this podcast we discuss:
What is Nihilism?
Nihilism in the trajectory of history
How Nihilism follows from the rejection of objective values and meaning
How Fredrick Nietzsche and his ideas impact culture
What Ecclesiastes says about Nihilism
How to spot Nihilism in popular culture
The “Ubermensch” according to Nietzsche and in history
How the collapse of the grand narrative of Christianity in the West impacts the future
How to have a meaningful conversation with someone who accepts Nihilism
The importance of committing to understand ideas as ambassadors in our culture
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
The Book of Ecclesiastes (NIV)
More information on Hilary Putnum’s life and work
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
JP Moreland, The Recalcitrant Imago Dei: Human Persons and the Failure of Naturalism
Romans Chapter 8 (NASB)
George Weigel, “Europe’s Two Culture Wars”
S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Randy Newman, Questioning Evangelism
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson (Newline Cinema, 2012)Stan's article on Nihilism
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