Nihilism argues that the world, especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. Nihilists generally assert some or all of the following: there is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator, a "true morality" is unknown, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no truth, and no action is known to be preferable to any other.

Nihilism is often more of an exonymic term (applied by others rather than by a group labeling itself) or a charge leveled against a particular idea, movement, or group, than it is an actual philosophical position to which someone overtly subscribes. Movements such as dada as well as Futurism and deconstructionism, among others, have been described by commentators as "nihilist" at various times in various contexts.