Nietzsche's life sentence : coming to terms with eternal recurrence

In this book Lawrence Hatab provides an accessible and provocative exploration of one of the best-known and still most puzzling aspects of Nietzsche's thought: eternal recurrence, the claim that life endlessly repeats itself identically in every detail. Hatab argues that eternal recurrence can and should be read literally, in just the way Nietzsche described it in the texts. The book offers a readable treatment of most of the core topics in Nietzsche's philosophy, all discussed in the light of the consummating effect of eternal recurrence. Although Nietzsche called eternal recurrence his most fundamental idea, most interpreters have found it problematic or needful of redescription in other terms. For this reason Hatab's book is an important and challenging contribution to Nietzsche scholarship. Since his death in 1889 Nietzsche hs become one of the world's most influential and popular philosophers. Recent years have seen a passionate revival of interest, which is now at an all time high and attracting many readers broadly across disciplines and beyond academe. In this book Lawrence Hatab provides an accessible and provocative exploration of one of the best-known and still most puzzling aspects of Nietzsche's thought: the doctrine of eternal return, the claim that life endlessly repeats itself identically in every detail. The book will offer a readable treatment of most of the core topics in Nietzsche's philosophy, all discussed in the light of the consummating effect of eternal recurrence. Hatab is a leading interpreter of Nietzsche's philosophy, and probably one of the best-qualified scholars in the world to write this book. His 1976 dissertation, later published by University Press of America and now out of print, was on this very topic and so in a very real sense you could say he has been working on the subject now for more than 30 years.; Although Nietzsche himself called the doctrine of eternal recurrence his most fundamental idea, very little has been written on it and Hatab's book makes an important and much needed contribution to the scholarship on Nietzsche. Given Hatab's reputation and the paucity of scholarship on eternal return, this book will be necessary reading for any serious scholar of Nietzsche's work. Hatab, who describes himself as a "recovering academic who has been jargon-free for six years", writes in a clear and readable style; the book will be open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in Nietzsche's thought. Because of Nietzsche's persistent public popularity, we should also expect some interest by general readers Content: Nietzsche's challenge to the tradition : from metaphyics to naturalism -- Retrieving Greek tragedy -- Morality, nihilism, and life affirmation -- Eternal recurrence in Nietzsche's texts -- Making belief : literal repetition and its existential force -- Calling witnesses : a review of the literature -- The trouble with repetition : confronting critical questions -- Epilogue : Laughter and truth : Nietzsche's philosophical satyr play -- The dancer.