Final answer:
Existential nihilism is the most general and popular type of nihilism, closely associated with Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy, denoting a belief that life lacks inherent meaning and engaging with the implications of extreme human freedom and the rejection of sacred moral foundations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most general and popular type of Nihilism associated with Friedrich Nietzsche is often referred to as existential nihilism. This form of nihilism concerns the belief that life lacks inherent meaning, value, and purpose, which can lead to feelings of the absurd as noted by existentialists
. Nietzsche's philosophy, particularly his notion of the Will to Power and his critical stance on traditional morality, exemplifies the existentialist inquiry into the foundations of values without resorting to divine or absolute references.
Nietzsche's ideas resonate with the decline of religious authority in the Western Hemisphere, prompting a reevaluation of the sources of morality and meaning in life.
In existential nihilism, championed by Nietzsche and others, individuals are seen as free creators of their own essence and value through their actions and choices.
This level of freedom is paired with an immense responsibility that can lead to anxiety
. The existentialists' treatment of freedom as a defining characteristic of human beings challenges traditional notions of predetermined or externally justified paths.
Nietzsche's core idea that "God is dead" signifies the rejection of a universal moral arbiter, paving the way for his critique of conventional morality and his exploration of the nature of power dynamics between individuals or groups.