Final answer:
Nihilism, as presented by Nietzsche and others, challenged traditional morality and the idea of inherent life meaning, leading to a sense of anxiety and absurdity. Existentialism arose in response, emphasizing individual freedom to create meaning. This shift profoundly influenced modern ethics and the arts.
Step-by-step explanation:
How did Nihilism affect the meaning of life? Nihilism, as propagated by thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, challenges the foundation of morality by denying the existence of inherent values and meaning in life. Nietzsche's assertion that "God is dead" signifies the collapse of the traditional moral framework that relied on a divine or absolute source. Without such a structure, each person is responsible for creating their own meaning, which can be an unsettling realization leading to a feeling of anxiety and absurdity.
Existentialism, which emerged in response to this loss of absolute meaning, posits that while life may inherently lack purpose, individuals have the freedom and responsibility to imbue their own lives with meaning through their actions and choices. This concept was influenced by the atrocities of World War II, leading artists like the Abstract Expressionists to find meaning in the creative process, making their art a testament to their existence. Ultimately, the consequences of Nihilism and the embrace of Existentialism as a philosophical response to it have had profound effects on modern ethics, arts, and the individual's perception of freedom and responsibility in crafting a meaningful life.
However, Nietzsche's idea of the Will to Power is often misconstrued as a call for the strong to dominate the weak. In truth, it reflects the inherent human desire to assert and enhance one's existence. The approach to ethics in the existential and postmodern context eschews universal principles in favor of individual or societal constructs, reflecting the responsibility each person has to determine their own moral compass.