Famous Nihilists

Nihilism has been called dangerous, liberating, depressing, and exhilarating — often in the same breath. Over the centuries, a handful of thinkers, artists, and cultural disruptors have worn the label (whether proudly or begrudgingly) and shaped how we understand meaninglessness today.

No, Nietzsche Is Not on This List

Noticeably absent from this list is Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900). Yes, he’s the first name most people expect to see — which is exactly why we’re addressing him up front. Despite the assumption, Nietzsche wasn’t truly a nihilist; he leaned closer to existentialism.

Although he famously declared “God is dead” and confronted the collapse of objective values, he wasn’t a pure nihilist — not in the sense of surrendering to despair. Instead, he diagnosed nihilism as an unavoidable stage of human history and wrestled with how to transcend it. Still, his writing has been a rallying point for many who embrace the void, even if he himself aimed to create something beyond it.

Ivan Turgenev (1818–1883)

The Russian novelist popularized the very term “nihilism” in his 1862 novel Fathers and Sons. His protagonist Bazarov rejected traditional values, authority, and romanticism — embodying the revolutionary skepticism that would later define nihilistic thought in literature.

Emil Cioran (1911–1995)

If nihilism had a poet laureate, it might be Cioran. The Romanian‑born philosopher embraced despair as an aesthetic, describing life as a “malady” and meaning as a delusion — yet doing so with a strange beauty that draws readers into his bleak but oddly liberating vision.

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Characters (1821–1881)

Dostoevsky himself was a Christian moralist who saw nihilism as a cultural and spiritual sickness. But in novels like The Possessed (1872), he created characters — such as Kirillov — who embodied and explored nihilistic ideas like rejecting God and embracing self‑deification. These portrayals weren’t endorsements; they were cautionary studies meant to expose nihilism’s psychological and moral consequences.

Richard Dawkins (1941– ) — By Accident

While Dawkins has never called himself a nihilist — preferring the label of a scientific naturalist — his unapologetic rejection of divine purpose and objective morality aligns closely with nihilistic conclusions. In practice, despite his framing, he is essentially a fellow traveler in the nihilist camp.

Anthony Jeselnik’s Character (1978– )

Anthony Jeselnik’s comedy persona, characterized by dark humor and a willingness to cross moral lines, carries unmistakable nihilistic undertones. His stage character revels in the absurdity and meaninglessness of life, delivering jokes about death, violence, and taboo subjects with a detached, amoral stance. Jeselnik himself has described this as a constructed persona rather than a reflection of his personal worldview — making it a stylistic choice rather than a lived philosophy.

Modern Cultural Nihilists

From punk rock lyrics to black‑clad stand‑up comedians, modern nihilists wear the worldview as both a provocation and a badge of authenticity. They might not publish treatises or quote Schopenhauer, but their message is clear: nothing matters, so play the game your way.

Final Thoughts

Nihilism isn’t confined to dusty philosophy books. It lives in novels, songs, stand‑up sets, and defiant moments of personal rebellion. Whether these figures embraced nihilism consciously or fell into it as a byproduct of their worldview, they’ve shaped how we think about meaning — or the lack of it.

For more on the unapologetic approach to life, and the theory and science — yes, science — behind joyful nihilism, see my book You Are Not Alive: The Illusion of Consciousness and Free Will.