Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Lopez Zafra, Manuel

Area of Concentration

Philosophy and Religion

Abstract

This thesis introduces the issue of modern nihilism, which Nietzsche prophesied would plague modern society. The purpose of the work is to introduce Sartrian philosophy and Buddhist philosophy as two potential answers to the plague of nihilism in the modern age. I do this by first introducing Nietzsche and his conception of nihilism and describing how the issue arose. Following this, I introduce Sartre and his existential philosophy. I describe his central notion of nothingness and how it relates as well as encapsulates all areas of his philosophy. Following this, I describe how this philosophy may be seen as one potential solution to the modern issue of nihilism. Following this, I reintroduce the issue of nihilism through the lens of not only Nietzsche but Schopenhauer as well as transition to an analysis of Buddhism. I then analyze Buddhism with special regard to its conception of Emptiness in a similar manner to the analysis of Sartre. Finally, I conclude that Buddhism may also be seen as a potential solution to the issue of modern nihilism.

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