Creativity and nihilism in Arvydas Šliogeris’ philosophy: ethical and ecological aspects

Abstract

The article presents Arvydas Šliogeris’ unique philosophical approach which treats creativity as a form of nihilism and thus suggests a need to reformulate the existing concept of nihilism. The unique approach towards creativity takes its shape as a reaction to the ecological consequences brought about by immoderate creation. However, it is argued that the uniqueness of Šliogeris’ position lies not as much with the view which treats creativity as negativity, but more with the unique division of human and non-human. This division eliminates the possibility to speak of the “human against the world” dichotomy, but rather directs one to see the interplay of human versus non-human in a human being himself or herself. Such position eliminates the controversy among the theories of environmental ethics in their search for the intrinsic value of things. It also encourages us to choose a moderate form of nihilism – not in order to protect human values or the world, but as a means to find his or her own inner balance between the human and the non-human.