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This is the final episode of our series on Schopenhauer, and the episode where we will finally draw some general conclusions, not merely about Schopenhauer’s philosophy or his life, or how he influenced Nietzsche - but rather about Nietzsche’s philosophical project itself and how Schopenhauer helped him discover the true opposition at the heart of his work. Nietzsche has been called a romantic during his early period, owing to the influence of Schopenhauer and Wagner. Nietzsche has also been cal...
This time, I'm having a conversation with Paul Katsafanas, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Boston University. He is the author of Nietzschean Constitutivism, an analytical approach to Nietzsche's ethics. This is the primary focus of our conversation, though I also talked to Professor Katfasanas about changes in the analytical/continental divide, his take on my own fictionalist approach to metaphysics, and the state of philosophy in 2021. I found Paul to have a wealth of insights into Nietzsch...
We begin to answer the question as to what Nietzsche saw in Schopenhauer, mostly in Nietzsche's own words. But the answer is not so simple as Nietzsche simply listing off a few ideas or character traits that he liked. Rather, Schopenhauer is held up alongside Rousseau and Goethe as an "image of man" to reveal to mankind how we might be elevated beyond the merely animal. All three are among those who have channeled genius, the "rarest specimens" of mankind who make up the extraordinary examples o...
Sigh. When I did the soundcheck my mic was plugged in. Then, I guess the cable slipped sometime before we started rolling. So, the crisp mic quality you got in the last couple episodes is not here and I was foolishly speaking into a mic while the computer mic is what actually recorded me. But, regardless of my own failures, my guest had a lot of fascinating things to say. Today I'm talking to Greg, from Into the Absurd. I appeared on Greg's podcast some time ago, and we talked about art & re...
Part two of the Schopenhauer series explores how his philosophy culminates in the idea of denying the will-to-live. The discussion covers Schopenhauer's unique interpretation of art and aesthetics, his concept of genius in comprehending Platonic forms, and deep parallels to Buddhist philosophy regarding suffering and liberation. The episode highlights Schopenhauer's dark conclusion that true salvation lies in nothingness, differentiating his pessimism from views focused solely on mortality, and setting the stage for Nietzsche's response to these ideas.
This episode explores Arthur Schopenhauer's metaphysics, primarily focusing on his central work, "The World as Will and Representation." It explains his dual view of reality, where the world is both a subjective representation and a fundamental, blind will that underlies all phenomena. The discussion highlights the influence of Kantian and Indian philosophy on Schopenhauer's thought and sets the stage for understanding his profound pessimism and its complex impact on Nietzsche.
This is the first episode with my new mic set-up! Enjoy that crisp, crystal-clear vocal quality on my end, for the first time during one of my conversations with a guest. Apparently the bitrate was wreaking havoc on my normal mic setup, but thankfully the problem is finally solved. In this Untimely Reflections, I have a conversation with Matt Keck, the co-host of Beyond Talking Points. Matt is an anarcho-capitalist, who recommended the topic of archotropism, which is a theory of power set forwar...
In America, we celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick or treating. In Germany, Allerheiligen is a holiday of paying respects to the dead, and showing reverence for all the saints of the Catholic Church. In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos involves the building of shrines and offering of food to the deceased. Among the ancient Celts, there was Samhain, a time in which the veil between worlds became thinner. Where do all these death holidays come from, and why do so many cultures, with different re...
Philosophers have a birth defect. They are cursed, destined to philosophize without a historical sense. Even without realizing it, we take for granted the moral prejudices of our own times. For better or worse, language and the cultural software we inherit both play a role in shaping our thought. For all these reasons, philosophers of all ages have fallen victim to habitual errors: of beginning from the conclusion, of inverting the effect and cause, in assuming that if something gladdens the hea...
This episode features a review of "When Nietzsche Wept" with co-host Amberly, who brings a fresh perspective as a film enthusiast with limited philosophy knowledge. They dissect the movie's poor production quality, amateurish decisions, and historical inaccuracies, particularly in its portrayal of Nietzsche's life, relationships, and core ideas like eternal recurrence. The discussion highlights how the film sidelines Nietzsche for Dr. Breuer's midlife crisis narrative, ultimately wishing for a more authentic adaptation.
In this episode, I'm chatting with my friend Karl Nord about Ayn Rand's Romantic Manifesto, Nietzsche's Use and Abuse of History for Life, whether H.P. Lovecraft's characters have volition, the use of deus ex machina in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, the depressing spirit of Von Trier films, morality in art and as art, and the alchemical power of aligning the artistic and the political.
What is the point of history? What is the point of our acquisition of knowledge? Is there a way for man to live unhistorically? And supposing that we cannot do without history, are there uses for it which are helpful? Are there uses which are harmful? Today we take a deep dive into the Untimely Meditations essay, On the Use and Abuse of History for Life. In this essay, Nietzsche reveals his love of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German playwright and author of Faust. This essay is a stat...
The podcast delves into Nietzsche's profound explanation of morality, positing the "will to power" as the underlying force driving human behavior and the formation of moral codes. It distinguishes Nietzsche's descriptive analysis from prescriptive ethics, explaining how morality, through self-overcoming, perfects mankind at the cost of guilt and suffering. The episode culminates in a discussion of how this understanding enables a "revaluation of all values" to assess moral systems for health and to achieve personal self-satisfaction.
It's another episode about a Nietzsche influence. This time, rather than talking about a philosopher from Ancient Greece, we found one from the Ancien Régime: Francois de La Rochefoucauld, the author of the Moral Maxims. Like fellow French philosopher Jean de La Bruyère, La Rochefoucauld is "a man of one book". The Maxims - a volume that is about sixty pages in length - is his sole contribution to the Western philosophical canon. Yet, solely on the basis of this work, Voltaire praised La Rochefo...
This time, I'm speaking with Matt Hazelwood. He is the co-host of the political podcast Beyond Talking Points, and also hosts his own podcast called The Philosopher's Guide to the Apocalypse. In this conversation, we talk about nationalism versus internationalism, how global economic forces have rendered the individual irrelevant, the prospect of Balkanizing the United States, political polarization, the Bronze Age Collapse, the French Revolution, and the unlikelihood of revolutions happening to...
Nietzsche's philosophy drove him mad, everyone knows that. If it wasn't his philosophy itself, then perhaps the syphilis did him in. He collapsed in the streets of Turin, throwing his arms around a beaten horse! He looked into the abyss, saw that nihilism was coming for society - and that's why we should all return to Christian values! We've all heard these takes before. But, unfortunately for "the Nietzsche legend", many of the stories about Nietzsche and his collapse are little more than myths...
Delving into Nietzsche's influential concepts, this episode uncovers the dual origins of morality, contrasting the power-based noble values of antiquity with the fear and resentment-driven "slave morality" that culminated in Christian ethics. It examines how these two opposing forces have intermingled to form modern Western morality, often leading to internal contradictions. The discussion also touches upon Nietzsche's philological insights and the role of the priestly caste in shaping these values.
This episode delves into Nietzsche's radical critique of free will, arguing that the concept of moral responsibility is a "fable" arising from humanity's historical development. It explores how our understanding of morality shifted from consequence-based to intention-based, leading to the problematic idea of an "uncaused cause." Nietzsche proposes an "extra-moral" perspective, advocating for "Amor Fati" and a reevaluation of criminality as a form of illness rather than a moral failing.
Untimely Reflections is a podcast within a podcast! In this series, I’ll be having conversations with other people interested in Nietzsche, and in philosophy. This time, I’m talking to Mynaa Miesnowan. This conversation was largely freeform. We talk about art, politics and religion as related forces that direct the course of society. We consider mass movements, dictatorships, and revolutions as caused by sociological forces that consciousness and ideology then steps in to explain and justify. Ce...
This episode delves into Nietzsche's concept of the "wisdom of the body," contrasting it with the prevailing mind-body dualism stemming from Descartes and Christian thought. It reveals how consciousness is a mere narrator, post-hoc explaining the actions of our unconscious, irrational drives, and introduces sublimation as a means of productively channeling these powerful impulses. Ultimately, Nietzsche seeks to heal the anti-life divide between mind and body by relocating the self within our dynamic physiological existence.
The topic for this week is... The Truth. The Nietzschean view of truth is one of the most difficult positions to convey, because the nature of the topic requires pushing language to its limits. To question the value of truth-seeking seems antithetical to the very activity of philosophy. Is Nietzsche just being obstinate? Is he an irrationalist? Is he a postmodernist? What about a Neo-Kantian? And what about Jordan Peterson's summation of his view of truth, that, "truth ought to serve life"? As I...
The podcast delves into Nietzsche's intricate views on Socrates, portraying him not as a simple villain but as a foundational figure whose influence was both admirable and problematic. It discusses how Nietzsche initially admired Socrates as a "philosopher of life" and a moral guide, yet later criticized his "will to truth" as a form of decadence leading to life denial. The episode highlights Nietzsche's ambivalence towards Socrates' martyrdom and his role as a critical "gadfly," ultimately positioning Socrates as a "destiny" whose philosophical legacy presented both a danger and an opportunity for Western thought.
Delve into Nietzsche's provocative idea that "weakness corrupts, absolute weakness corrupts absolutely," an inversion of popular wisdom that unpacks the psychological roots of will to power. This episode explains how a lack of power fosters cruelty and resentment, contrasting the "slave morality" with the "noble morality." It culminates in a critical look at how Nietzsche viewed Christianity as a manifestation of absolute weakness, leading to a profound corruption of reality.
This episode explores Nietzsche's profound admiration for the Pre-Platonic philosopher Heraclitus, framing him as a crucial influence on Nietzsche's own philosophical journey. It delves into Nietzsche's reinterpretation of early Greek philosophy, arguing that Plato, not Socrates, was the true turning point, and that Pre-Platonics were unique, self-defining archetypes. The discussion highlights Heraclitus's core ideas of eternal change ("everything flows"), the world as ever-living fire, and the fundamental role of strife, revealing how these concepts prefigured Nietzsche's will to power and his aesthetic justification of existence.
Delve into the perplexing story of Friedrich Nietzsche's decision to erect a headstone for his deceased pastor father, inscribed with a Christian verse, despite his anti-Christian stance. The episode traces his early life trauma, mysterious illness, strained relationship with Richard Wagner, and the personal trials that led to his monumental work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Ultimately, it reveals how these experiences culminated in his radical philosophy of Amor Fati and the affirmation of all of life, including suffering, as exemplified by the headstone's profound double meaning.
Delving into Nietzsche's declaration that "God is Dead," this episode examines its various interpretations through characters like the Madman, the Pope, Zarathustra, and the Ugliest Man. It clarifies that this event signifies the cultural unbelievability of God, leading to a crisis of values and potential nihilism, while also opening an optimistic path for "free spirits" to create new meaning. The discussion also critiques common misinterpretations, particularly Jordan Peterson's sorrowful framing, by highlighting Nietzsche's often celebratory view of this "new dawn."
Delve into Nietzsche's view of philosophy as a dangerous, exciting journey of "wandering through ice and mountain peaks," contrasting it with traditional philosophical approaches. The episode examines "The Wanderer" character, a stand-in for Nietzsche during his period of isolation in the Alps, and how this philosophical wandering was shaped by his personal struggles and quest for independence. It also explores the metaphorical landscape of his thought, his engagement with self-reflection, and connections to German cultural motifs like Odin and the "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" painting.
This episode introduces Friedrich Nietzsche by examining his passage "How the True World Finally Became a Fable" from The Twilight of Idols. The discussion traces the historical error of metaphysics, from Plato's concept of a virtuous "true world" to its transformation in Christianity and further skepticism through Kant and Schopenhauer. Ultimately, Nietzsche declares the "true world" an obsolete fable, advocating for an embrace of the immediate, human world.
