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The Affirmation of Life: Nietzsche on Overcoming Nihilism

 
 
hue-man
 
Reply Fri 26 Feb, 2010 07:56 pm
The Affirmation of Life: Nietzsche on Overcoming Nihilism
By Bernard Reginster

Overview: Written by Associate Professor of Philosophy at Browns University, Bernard Reginster, The Affirmation of Life: Nietzsche on Overcoming Nihilism is an in depth look at the systemicity of Nietzsche's value philosophy (axiology). Reginster attempts to complete Nietzsche's revaluation of our values . . . A task that Nietzsche was unable to complete due to his mental breakdown that is believed to have been caused by a syphilis infection. Reginster seeks to present us with a systematic view of Nietzsche's value philosophy, and though it clearly becomes difficult for him to do at times due to Nietzsche's premature decline, I believe that he succeeded. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's truly interested in Nietzschean philosophy.

Pros: The author presents lucid and thorough descriptions of various axiological worldviews . . . From Schopenhauer's pessimism to Kant's metaethics and Nietzsche's will to power.

Cons: At times it appears as though the author is stating his interpretation versus what Nietzsche may have actually thought of a particular thing. However, these moments are very rare and the author's articulation of Nietzschean philosophy comes across more as a description than an interpretation.

Highlights

  • Chapter Three: The Will to Power, which discusses the nature of human willing, as well as the pain and desire that comes from willing.
  • Chapter Four: Overcoming Despair, which deals with the revaluation of happiness, suffering and compassion.
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jgweed
 
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Reply Sat 27 Feb, 2010 09:27 am
@hue-man,
Puccini died in the midst of Turandot, and someone else finished it for him based on a some sketches and discussion. Heidegger, in his discussions of Nietzsche, often prefers to use his unpublished notes rather that what N. felt worthy and important to publish.

"Completing" an unfinished philosophy, or an unfinished life, seems always a matter of interpretation, and one must judge whether the attempt is an honest and earnest one or not. Nietzsche's thought is always in transition even in his published works; as the philosopher of becoming this is perhaps fitting and proper. Consider how the Dionysian in BT becomes transformed into "Dionysus vs. the Crucified," or the unfinished portrait of the Overman. Consider that while there may be a general agreement amongst subsequent philosophers and scholars about the important themes in N's work, there is much less consensus about what he actually meant and the ranking of even those themes.

So perhaps saying that Reginster offers an interpretation is not necessarily a con in Nietzsche's case.
hue-man
 
  1  
Reply Sat 27 Feb, 2010 09:36 am
@jgweed,
Reginster also preferred to use Nietzsche's unpublished works in this book. He believes that it's the closest we can get to completing Nietzsche's revaluation of values.
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