Friedrich Nietzsche

Nihilism: An Introduction

Lecture slides introducing the history of the concept of nihilism. Various types of nihilism are discussed: epistemological (Academic Skepticism); political (Turgenev); Ethical - Existential; and historical (Nietzsche). Nietzsche's diagnosis of the crisis of nihilism (the death of God) and of the history of nihilism with its completion in the affirmation of the eternal return are also discussed. Finally, various 20th century interpretations of Nietzsche's nihilism are discussed: Heidegger, Existentialism (Camus) and Post-structuralism (Derrida).

Overcoming Nihilism

A follow up lecture to the introductory lecture above, exploring possible responses to the challenge of nihilism. First the "question of meaning" is addressed, using the example of linguistic meaning. Next, I discuss the problem of contemporary philosophical approaches, undertaken in the shadow of the nihilism of postmodern deconstruction. The lecture asserts that the commonplace notion that nihilism frees us to create our own values is seriously flawed. Finally, while not a final answer to the question of the "meaning of life", the lecture points to the wisdom of the "great books" as a source for answers to the challenge of nihilism -- namely four central epics of the Western tradition: the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid and Paradise Lost.

Nietzsche: An Introduction (PPT Slides)

An overview of Nietzsche's works and a general introduction to his key philosophical concepts, including:

• Perspectivism

• The Tragic

• God is Dead

• Nihilism

• Overman

• Will to Power

• Eternal Return

Nietzsche's Critique of Liberalism 

Lecture notes providing an overview of Nietzsche's critique of modern liberalism and the modern liberal state. Looking at this critique provides a point of entry into Nietzsche's overarching political philosophy, wherein the will to power manifests itself in political and cultural institutions with the goal of producing the highest types of individuals.

The Third Wave of Modernity: Nietzsche's Critique of Historicism

Lecture slides for a course on "Time and Narrative in Prose Fiction" (2020) -- covering the historical context of the "Third Wave" of modernity in the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche's critique of historicism in "On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life" (1874) is discussed in relation to his overall philosophy concerning: the Death of God, the History of Nihilism and the "completion" of the latter in the affirmation of the Eternal Return.

Nietzsche and the Crisis of Nihilism

Lecture notes from a course on "Prose Fiction and the Invention of the Self" (Winter 2019). A presentation on Nietzsche's response to the crisis of nihilism, as well as an introduction to the overall structure of Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Works on the List of the 101 Greatest Books

On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life (1874)

Detailed notes on Nietzsche's "On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life", one of his Untimely Meditations. The notes systematically cover the various elements of Nietzsche's argument and provide reflections on the pertinence of Nietzsche's argument for us today: for example, is an excess of history a problem for us in the 21st century as it was for Nietzsche in the 19th century? or, can the notion of a historical study that stifles possibilities for creation in the present help us understand the limits of a slavish veneration of the "Western Canon" today?

Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-85)

A chart-form Overview of the action and the argument of Nietzsche's greatest published work: Thus Spoke Zarathustra. 

"The Eternal Return and the Completion of Nihilism" -- Notes on the essential teaching of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the Eternal Return of the Same, in relation to Nietzsche's notion of the history of the West as the history of "nihilism".

Works on the List of the 1001 Great Books

Early Prefaces (1871)

The Birth of Tragedy (1872)

Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks (1873)

Untimely Meditations (1876)

Human, all too Human (1878)

Daybreak (1881)

The Gay Science (1882)

Beyond Good and Evil (1886)

On the Genealogy of Morals (1887)

Twilight of the Idols (1888)

The Antichrist (1888)

Ecce Homo (1888)

Nietzsche Contra Wagner (1888)

The Will to Power(1888)

"What We Get Wrong About Nietzsche's Nihilism"

A discussion of Nietzsche's interpretation of the history of nihilism; in VoegelinView (October 2023)

The essay takes issue with popular interpretations of Nietzsche that he simply wanted us to embrace life as meaningless. For Nietzsche, nihilism is a historical crisis that needs to be overcome. The essay defines several aspects of nihilism: ethical, political, epistemological and historical (Nietzsche's innovation). Then, the essay outlines the history of nihilism as understood by Nietzsche and how it is completed and overcome through the affirmation of the eternal return. Finally, the essay quickly discusses the postmodernist, Straussian and Heideggerian responses to Nietzsche's description of the history of nihilism.  

"Nietzsche’s Gift: On the First Part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra"

An interpretation of the First Part of Zarathustra in relation to Nietzsche’s reversal of Platonism, namely in relation to a reversal of Platonic, esoteric communication; published in VoegelinView (January 2020)

Friedrich Nietzsche referred to his own philosophy as an inversion of Platonism. It has yet to be clearly established, however, what exactly this meant for Nietzsche. This paper examines the First Part of Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra in light of Nietzsche’s relation to Plato. The paper asserts that one key for understanding Nietzsche’s inversion of Platonism is coming to grips with the reversal of Plato’s art of philosophic communication that takes place in the First Part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This reversal of Platonic communication is undertaken by means of the thematic of the “Gift”. That is, Platonic communication is likened to a gift-giving that responds to the needs of its recipients. Platonic, or “esoteric”, philosophic communication adapts its message to the needs of the listener – veiling its message in order to protect listeners from harmful philosophic truths. Zarathustra, on the other hand, learns a new form of communication in the First Part, one that is driven by the imperatives of the speaker or giver, not the listener or recipient: “How can I give each his own? Let this be sufficient for me: I give each my own."

"Nietzsche’s Early Political Thinking II: ‘The Greek State’"

A close reading of Nietzsche’s early essay “The Greek State” revealing its linkages to the thought of Plato; published in Minerva 17 (2013): 171 – 216

This paper attempts to uncover the political aspects of Nietzsche’s early thinking through an extended discussion of his essay “The Greek State.” The paper builds on a similar discussion of another essay from the same period, “Homer on Competition,” in arguing that Nietzsche’s thinking is based on a confrontation with the work of Plato. It is argued that the key to understanding “The Greek State” is seeing it, in its entirety, as an enigmatic interpretation and re-writing of Plato’s Republic. Nietzsche interprets the Republic as Plato’s accomplishment of the task of the genuine philosopher: the legislation of values and the molding of human character.

"Nietzsche’s Early Political Thinking: ‘Homer on Competition’"

A close reading of “Homer on Competition” revealing Nietzsche’s esoteric doctrine of the relation between phusis and nomos; published in Minerva 9 (2005): 177-235

The paper is a close reading of Nietzsche's early essay, "Homer on Competition". It explores the understanding of nature as strife presented in that essay, how this strife channels itself into cultural or state forms, and how these forms cultivate the creative individual or genius. The article concludes by asserting that Nietzsche's central point in "Homer on Competition" concerns the contest across the ages that is fought by these geniuses. For Nietzsche, therefore, competition has a political significance — the forging of the unity and identity of a particular community — and a trans-political significance — the forging of a "republic of geniuses" on the part of artists and philosophers across the expanse of the tradition.

“Friedrich Nietzsche” entry at Wikipedia

“Friedrich Nietzsche” entry at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

“Friedrich Nietzsche” entry at the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy