If you were once fascinated by Nietzche’s epigrams, then you’ll find equal interest in the writings of his successor Emil Cioran. In “A Short History of Decay,” Cioran expands upon the nihilism that is rampant throughout Nietzche’s works and existentialist philosophy.

The title itself alludes to the morbid and allusive tones throughout its pages. And it is only after peering past Cioran’s cynism and stream-of-consciousness like ramblings, that the reader finds poignant and sometimes riveting reflections that call into question the human motivations behind belief and purpose.

“In itself, every idea is neutral, or should be; but man animates ideas, projects his flames and flaws into them; impure, transformed into beliefs, ideas take their in time.”

This opening excerpt is as close to an argument as you get with Cioran. The above echoes the core features of nihilist philosophy which denies the existence of objective value and truth. Rather, through the nihilist’s eyes truth is only as valuable as its creator determines it to be. It is seemingly for this reason that Cioran seems to have no need for arguments because his starting position assumes nihilism to be irrefutable:

“Believers, lovers, disciples perceive only one face of their deities, their idols, their masters…Is there a pure feeling which fails to betray the mixture of grace and imbecility, a blissful admiration without an eclipse of the intelligence?”

Although intriguing and poetic at times, the lack of a cohesive argument in support of his beliefs seems to contradict the very anti-belief stance he upholds. Cioran believes while railing against the very notion of belief. His self-awareness of this fact, however, preserves the value of the text. And even if you still to choose to believe in such things as morality and purpose, you will surely find “A Short History of Decay” inspires your assurances in these notions just by virtue of so boldly denouncing them. Perhaps, this is what Cioran’s goal was all along.

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