Postmodern Nihilism: There Is No Truth Even the Truth That There Is No Truth

Abstract

Whenever it is said there is no truth in place, this question comes up as to whether the truth itself does exist or not? Two answers are offered for this question. First, there is no truth other than the truth that there is no truth (modern nihilism). Secondly, there is no truth even the truth that there is no truth (postmodern nihilism). This paper aims at exploring the second answer by presenting examples of the claim in postmodernism. While pluralism states that there is no absolute truth, nihilism asserts that there is absolutely no truth and that the same truth is not true as well. Hence, postmodern nihilism is self-contradictory based on its realistic interpretations and self-reflective based on its nihilistic interpretations. Post-structuralism is nihilist from the epistemological perspectives because it claims that no cognizance can be generalized and adjusted to the world but it is probably not nihilist in terms of semiotics because it does not deny the principle of implication. Deconstruction is nihilistic and devastative for the authorship-oriented person exercising centralism. Post-colonial nihilism is also indicative of the destruction and disapproval of the identity of the colonialized lands as well as reflective of the denial of the identity of the minority races like the black. Gender nihilism engages in denial of gender and queer nihilism denies any sort of sexual, gender, and identity normality.

Keywords

• nihilism
• postmodernism
• pluralism
• absurdism
• post-apocalypse