Nihilism vs. Dystopia — What's the Difference?

Nihilism (; from Latin nihil 'nothing') is a philosophy, or family of views within philosophy, expressing negation (i.e., denial of) towards general aspects of life that are widely accepted within humanity as objectively real, such as knowledge, existence, and the meaning of life. Different nihilist positions hold variously that human values are baseless, that life is meaningless, that knowledge is impossible, or that some set of entities do not exist, are meaningless, or pointless.The study of nihilism may regard it as merely a label that has been applied to various separate philosophies, or as a distinct historical concept arising out of nominalism, skepticism, and philosophical pessimism, as well as possibly out of Christianity itself.

A dystopia (from Ancient Greek δυσ- "bad, hard" and τόπος "place"; alternatively cacotopia or simply anti-utopia) is a fictional community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is often treated as an antonym of utopia, a term that was coined by Sir Thomas More and figures as the title of his best known work, published in 1516, which created a blueprint for an ideal society with minimal crime, violence and poverty.

(Philosophy) The doctrine that nothing actually exists or that existence or values are meaningless.

An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror.

Relentless negativity or cynicism suggesting an absence of values or beliefs

A work describing such a place or state

Political belief or action that advocates or commits violence or terrorism without discernible constructive goals.

A vision of a future that is a corrupted (usually beyond recognition) utopian society.

Also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid-19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.

A miserable, dysfunctional state or society that has a very poor standard of living.

(Psychiatry) A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

(pathology) Anatomical tissue that is not found in its usual place.

The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning.

State in which the condition of life is extremely bad as from deprivation or oppression or terror

The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral principles, legal rules, etc., often due to the view that life is meaningless (sense 1).

A work of fiction describing an imaginary place where life is extremely bad because of deprivation or oppression or terror

The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political spheres of society.

A delusion that oneself or the world, or parts thereof, have ceased to exist.

Alternative case form of Nihilism

A doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; in particular, the view that nothing in the world actually exists.

(countable) Something that is regarded as meaningless.

Nothingness; nihility.

The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all knowledge and all reality.

The theories and practices of the Nihilists.

A revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake

The delusion that things (or everything, including the self) do not exist; a sense that everything is unreal

Complete denial of all established authority and institutions