NCJ Number
63493
Date Published
1950
Length
282 pages
Annotation
THE RUSSIAN, SERGEI NECHAYEV (1847-1883), IS PRESENTED AS THE MODEL OF A NIHILIST (ONE WHO ADVOCATES THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ALL EXISTING FORMS OF HUMAN INTERACTION), AND THE HISTORY OF SUBSEQUENT NIHILISTS IS TRACED.
Abstract
SERGEI NECHAYEV, IN HIS 'THE REVOLUTIONARY CATECHISM,' PRESENTED THE MANDATES OF THE PURE NIHILIST. IN A SECTION ENTITLED 'THE DUTIES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY TOWARDS SOCIETY' HE STATES, 'THE REVOLUTIONARY ENTERS THE WORLD OF THE STATE, OF THE CLASSES, AND OF SO-CALLED CIVILIZATION, AND HE LIVES IN THIS WORLD ONLY BECAUSE HE HAS FAITH IN ITS QUICK AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION. HE SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO DESTROY ANY POSITION, ANY PLACE, OR ANY MAN IN THIS WORLD.' THE NIHILIST, AS REPRESENTED IN THE THOUGHT OF NECHAYEV, CANNOT TOLERATE THE EXISTENCE OF A LIFE FORCE OR HUMAN INSTITUTION THAT IS NOT A REFLECTION OR AN ALLY OF HIS OWN DESTRUCTIVE URGES. HIS IDENTITY AS A DESTROYER IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING, BLOTTING OUT ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, SENSITIVITY, AND COMPASSION. THE FORMULATION OF ANY SOCIOPOLITICAL ORDER BEYOND THE OBLITERATION OF EXISTING HUMAN INSTITUTIONS IS PERIPHERAL OR EVEN IRRELEVANT TO THE DOMINANT OBSESSION OF THE NIHILIST, WHICH IS TO EXTERMINATE ALL THAT STANDS AGAINST HIS IDENTITY AS A DESTROYER OF DOMINANT HUMAN VALUES AND SOCIAL ORDER. GERMAN NATIONAL SOCIALISM EMBODIED IN HITLER AND RUSSIAN COMMMUNISM AND REPRESENTED IN LENIN'S CONCEPTS AND POLITICAL STRATEGIES WERE TWO OF THE MOST POWERFUL NIHILISTIC MANIFESTATIONS SINCE NECHAYEV. THE URGE TO NIHILISTIC THINKING AND BEHAVIOR TENDS TO THRIVE IN PERSONALITIES AND SOCIETIES VICTIMIZED BY DEHUMANIZING FORCES--MECHANIZATION, BUREAUCRATIZATION, ETC. NIHILISM IS PREVENTED OR SMOTHERED BY VALUES THAT GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO THE LIFE FORCE, NEEDS, FEELINGS, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. FOOTNOTES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)