Political Nihilism - History of Political Nihilism

History of Political Nihilism

In 1842, many Russian dissidents appear to have espoused nihilistic viewpoints. Here is a relevant quote from Russian Nihilist Dmitri Pisarev:

"Here is the ultimatum of our camp. What can be smashed must be smashed; whatever will stand the blow is sound, what flies into smithereens is rubbish; at any rate, hit out right and left, no harm will or can come of it."

and another one from Russian anarchist Mikhail Bakunin:

"the negation of what exists ... for the benefit of the future which does not exist."

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