Realism vs. Nihilism: What's the Difference?

An inclination toward literal truth and pragmatism.

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

The representation in art or literature of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are, without idealization or presentation in abstract form.

Relentless negativity or cynicism suggesting an absence of values or beliefs

The scholastic doctrine, opposed to nominalism, that universals exist independently of their being thought.

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

The modern philosophical doctrine, opposed to idealism, that objects exist independently of their being perceived.

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 concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.

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

An artistic representation of reality as it is.

The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning.

(sciences) The viewpoint that an external reality exists independent of observation.

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).

(philosophy) A doctrine that universals are real—they exist and are distinct from the particulars that instantiate them.

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

As opposed to nominalism, the doctrine that genera and species are real things or entities, existing independently of our conceptions. According to realism the Universal exists ante rem (Plato), or in re (Aristotle).

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

Fidelity to nature or to real life; representation without idealization, and making no appeal to the imagination; adherence to the actual fact.

Alternative case form of Nihilism

The practise of assessing facts and the probabilities of the consequences of actions in an objective manner; avoidance of unrealistic or impractical beliefs or efforts. Contrasted to idealism, self-deception, overoptimism, overimaginativeness, or visionariness.

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.

The attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth

(countable) Something that is regarded as meaningless.

(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical object continue to exist when not perceived

Nothingness; nihility.

The state of being actual or real;

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

An artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual description

The theories and practices of the Nihilists.

(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names

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