Nihilism

The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age

By: Eugene (Fr. Seraphim) Rose

Narrated by: David A. Conatser

“What does Nihilism mean?” wrote Friedrich Nietszche. “That the highest values are losing their value. There is no goal.... There is no truth, no ‘thing in itself.’ There is no answer to the question: ‘why?’”

In 1962, the young Eugene Rose - the future Hieromonk Seraphim - undertook to write a monumental chronicle of the abandonment of truth in the modern age. Of the hundreds of pages of materials he compiled for this work, only the present essay, on nihilism, has come down to us in completed form. Here Eugene reveals the core of all modern thought and life - the belief that all truth is relative - and shows how this belief has been translated into action in our era. Today, more than half a century after he wrote it, this essay is more timely than ever. It clearly explains why contemporary ideas, values, and attitudes - the “spirit of the age” - are shifting so rapidly in the direction of moral anarchy, as the philosophy of nihilism enters more deeply into the fiber of society. Nietszche was right when he predicted that the 20th century would usher in “the triumph of Nihilism”.

As the post-modern world of the 21st century has continued to sink ever further into relativism, this classic essay has continued to grow in popularity among those thirsting to understand the causes of the catastrophe that is rapidly overtaking Western societies.

©1994 St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (P)2021 St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood

Comprehensive & still relevant

Liked the thorough philosophical treatment of the subject & F. Nietzsche, its father. Didn’t realize how thoroughly nihilism & absurdism (a recent iteration) had become the philosophy of the west. This is a quick listen!

A sobering appraisal of contemporary culture

This book and the essay included in the appendix constitute unapologetically sobering appraisal of contemporary trends. Fr.Seraphim’s scholarly voice and Christ-centered rhetoric tower above secular attempts to make sense of this age of absurdity. Moreover, his tone is soteriological—it points readers back toward Christ as the center of all interpretation, healing, and renewal.

Amazing!!

Glory be to God! This is a must read for everyone in our age! Fr. Seraphim Rose May we have his holy prayers.

Ominous

This is not from a pop-politic perspective. Rather, this is a well articulated explanation of the follies of liberalism. Father Seraphim Rose explains the progression of a person from liberalism to ultimately nihilism. Someone can start out well-meaning but will still arrive at Nihilism when they turn away from God. You can see these patterns very clearly in today’s world.

Reads very current

Fr Seraphim wrote over 60 years ago and refers to Bolshevism and Naziism but take away those monikers and he is describing current events, the seeds of which were laid in that time. A cautionary tale that all would do well to heed.