Nihilism, derived from the Latin nihil meaning 'nothing,' is a philosophical and social viewpoint denying inherent meaning in life, objective morality, knowledge, and established societal structures. The term Nihilismus first emerged in 18th-century German writings, appearing in works by figures like Friedrich Leberecht Goetz (1733) and Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1799), often as a pejorative for modernity's challenges to tradition. It gained widespread popularity and social significance in Russia with Ivan Turgenev's 1862 novel Fathers and Sons, whose characters, embodying the "deny everything" mentality, inspired the Russian nihilist movement.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche profoundly shaped the understanding of nihilism, linking it to the Western world's 'death of God' and the disintegration of traditional morality. His analysis highlighted it as both a destructive force and a critical challenge to human values. The concept's influence stretched into French and continental philosophy, and similar ideas, like natthikavāda, were even discussed by the Buddha, underscoring its deep and ancient connection to fundamental questions of existence.