Reflections on nihilism: the search for God in modern times : master's thesis in philosophy

Abstract

This thesis explores the question of ‘where might God be for us today?’ in light of Nietzsche’s diagnostic utterance concerning the modern age as one where ‘God is dead’ (nihilism) and existence seems ontologically meaningless. In order to address this question I examine two philosophical responses that took Nietzsche’s utterance to heart: Martin Heidegger and Martin Buber. I afford special emphasis to the divine in relationship to modernity in their respective ontologies. What Nietzsche referred to as nihilism, Heidegger refers to as the abandonment of Being (Seinsverlassenheit), and Buber refers to as the Eclipse of God (Gotterfinsternis). The thesis proceeds on the basis that ‘God’ has always been an integral and ‘question worthy’ part of the meaning of human existence and cannot merely be written off as a lie or fabrication, but instead demands philosophical scrutiny. By examining the insights of these thinkers together we are afforded a holistic understanding of nihilism and the question of God in the modern world.