The Affirmation of Life : Nietzsche on Overcoming Nihilism

Among all the great thinkers of the past two hundred years, Nietzsche continues to occupy a special place--not only for a broad range of academics but also for members of a wider public, who find some of their most pressing existential concerns addressed in his works. Central among these concerns is the question of the meaning of a life characterized by inescapable suffering, at a time when the traditional responses inspired by Christianity are increasingly losing their credibility. While most recent studies of Nietzsche's works have lost sight of this fundamental issue, Bernard Reginster's book The Affirmation of Life brings it sharply into focus. Reginster identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche's philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his main ideas. In particular, Reginster's work develops an original and elegant interpretation of the will to power, which convincingly explains how Nietzsche uses this doctrine to mount a critique of the dominant Christian values, to overcome the nihilistic despair they produce, and to determine the conditions of a new affirmation of life. Thus, Reginster attributes to Nietzsche a compelling substantive ethical outlook based on the notions of challenge and creativity--an outlook that involves a radical reevaluation of the role and significance of suffering in human existence. Replete with deeply original insights on many familiar--and frequently misunderstood--Nietzschean concepts, Reginster's book will be essential to anyone approaching this towering figure of Western intellectual history. (20060315) TITLE PAGE......Page 3 Preface......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Abbreviations......Page 11 Introduction......Page 15 1. The Idea of the Meaning of Life......Page 35 2. Two Senses of Nihilism......Page 39 3. Pessimism and Nihilism......Page 42 4. A Conflict Between Despair and Disorientation?......Page 47 5. The Concept of a “Highest Value”......Page 49 6. Nihilism: Philosophy or Decadence?......Page 51 1. “God Is Dead”......Page 53 2. The Negation of Life......Page 58 3. Varieties of Negation of Life......Page 62 1. Nihilism and Revaluation......Page 63 2. The Importance of Nihilism......Page 65 3. Nihilism as a Relative Concept......Page 66 1. Despair and Disorientation......Page 68 2. Objectivism......Page 70 II. The Critique of Descriptive Objectivism......Page 72 1. The Rejection of Platonism......Page 73 2. The Rejection of Kantianism......Page 77 3. Nihilism......Page 81 III. Normative Subjectivism......Page 83 IV. Normative Fictionalism......Page 99 1. The Nature of Normativity......Page 112 2. Metaethics and Despair......Page 114 3 / The Will to Power......Page 117 1. Philosophy and Experience......Page 120 2. Pessimism......Page 121 3. Pain and Desire......Page 123 4. The Negative Character of Happiness......Page 128 5. The Nature of Human Willing......Page 132 6. The Argument from Boredom......Page 134 1. The Critique of Schopenhauer......Page 138 2. The Nature of the Will to Power......Page 140 3. The Paradox of Will to Power......Page 147 4. The Psychology of Will to Power: Two Case Studies......Page 153 4 / Overcoming Despair......Page 162 I. On the Possibility of a Revaluation of All Values......Page 163 II. The Problem of Suffering......Page 173 1. The Morality of Compassion......Page 176 2. Happiness as Resignation......Page 183 II. The Ethics of Power......Page 190 1. The Revaluation of Compassion......Page 199 2. The Concept of Greatness......Page 204 3. The Revaluation of Happiness......Page 208 IV. Genealogy and Revaluation......Page 211 5 / The Eternal Recurrence......Page 215 I. Eternal Recurrence and the Affirmation of Life......Page 216 1. The Eternal Recurrence as Cosmology......Page 219 2. The Eternal Recurrence and the Futility of Choice......Page 220 3. The Eternal Recurrence and the Importance of Choice......Page 223 4. The Eternal Recurrence and the Self......Page 226 5. The Eternal Recurrence and the Evaluation of Life......Page 231 1. The Necessity of Revaluation......Page 233 2. Eternal Recurrence Refigured......Page 236 6 / Dionysian Wisdom......Page 242 1. The Value of Suffering......Page 243 2. Adam’s Fall, Socratic Ignorance, and the Faustian Bargain......Page 249 3. Dionysus and Tragic Wisdom......Page 256 4. The Overman......Page 264 1. Ressentiment......Page 265 2. The Ascetic Ideal......Page 274 3. Nietzsche’s “Philanthropy”......Page 275 4. The Question of Ethical Elitism......Page 277 III. Conclusion......Page 280 Introduction......Page 285 1. Nihilism......Page 287 2. Overcoming Disorientation......Page 291 3. The Will to Power......Page 296 4. Overcoming Despair......Page 300 5. The Eternal Recurrence......Page 306 6. Dionysian Wisdom......Page 311 Bibliography......Page 315 Index......Page 323 TITLE PAGE 3 Preface 7 Contents 9 Abbreviations 11 Introduction 15 1 / Nihilism 35 I. The Nature of Nihilism 35 1. The Idea of the Meaning of Life 35 2. Two Senses of Nihilism 39 3. Pessimism and Nihilism 42 4. A Conflict Between Despair and Disorientation? 47 5. The Concept of a “Highest Value” 49 6. Nihilism: Philosophy or Decadence? 51 II. The Sources of Nihilism 53 1. “God Is Dead” 53 2. The Negation of Life 58 3. Varieties of Negation of Life 62 III. Overcoming Nihilism 63 1. Nihilism and Revaluation 63 2. The Importance of Nihilism 65 3. Nihilism as a Relative Concept 66 2 / Overcoming Disorientation 68 I. Nihilism and Objectivism About Values 68 1. Despair and Disorientation 68 2. Objectivism 70 II. The Critique of Descriptive Objectivism 72 1. The Rejection of Platonism 73 2. The Rejection of Kantianism 77 3. Nihilism 81 III. Normative Subjectivism 83 IV. Normative Fictionalism 99 IV. The Limits of Metaethics 112 1. The Nature of Normativity 112 2. Metaethics and Despair 114 3 / The Will to Power 117 I. Schopenhauer’s Pessimism 120 1. Philosophy and Experience 120 2. Pessimism 121 3. Pain and Desire 123 4. The Negative Character of Happiness 128 5. The Nature of Human Willing 132 6. The Argument from Boredom 134 II. What Is the Will to Power? 138 1. The Critique of Schopenhauer 138 2. The Nature of the Will to Power 140 3. The Paradox of Will to Power 147 4. The Psychology of Will to Power: Two Case Studies 153 4 / Overcoming Despair 162 I. On the Possibility of a Revaluation of All Values 163 II. The Problem of Suffering 173 1. The Morality of Compassion 176 2. Happiness as Resignation 183 II. The Ethics of Power 190 III. The Revaluation of All Values 199 1. The Revaluation of Compassion 199 2. The Concept of Greatness 204 3. The Revaluation of Happiness 208 IV. Genealogy and Revaluation 211 5 / The Eternal Recurrence 215 I. Eternal Recurrence and the Affirmation of Life 216 II. Interpretations of the Eternal Recurrence 219 1. The Eternal Recurrence as Cosmology 219 2. The Eternal Recurrence and the Futility of Choice 220 3. The Eternal Recurrence and the Importance of Choice 223 4. The Eternal Recurrence and the Self 226 5. The Eternal Recurrence and the Evaluation of Life 231 III. Eternal Recurrence and Revaluation 233 1. The Necessity of Revaluation 233 2. Eternal Recurrence Refigured 236 6 / Dionysian Wisdom 242 I. Suffering and the Affirmation of Life 243 1. The Value of Suffering 243 2. Adam’s Fall, Socratic Ignorance, and the Faustian Bargain 249 3. Dionysus and Tragic Wisdom 256 4. The Overman 264 II. Weakness and Negation of Life 265 1. Ressentiment 265 2. The Ascetic Ideal 274 3. Nietzsche’s “Philanthropy” 275 4. The Question of Ethical Elitism 277 III. Conclusion 280 Notes 285 Introduction 285 1. Nihilism 287 2. Overcoming Disorientation 291 3. The Will to Power 296 4. Overcoming Despair 300 5. The Eternal Recurrence 306 6. Dionysian Wisdom 311 Bibliography 315 Index 323

Among all the great thinkers of the past two hundred years, Nietzsche continues to occupy a special place—not only for a broad range of academics but also for members of a wider public, who find some of their most pressing existential concerns addressed in his works. Central among these concerns is the question of the meaning of a life characterized by inescapable suffering, at a time when the traditional responses inspired by Christianity are increasingly losing their credibility. While most recent studies of Nietzsche's works have lost sight of this fundamental issue, Bernard Reginster's book The Affirmation of Life brings it sharply into focus.

Reginster identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche's philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his main ideas. In particular, Reginster's work develops an original and elegant interpretation of the will to power, which convincingly explains how Nietzsche uses this doctrine to mount a critique of the dominant Christian values, to overcome the nihilistic despair they produce, and to determine the conditions of a new affirmation of life. Thus, Reginster attributes to Nietzsche a compelling substantive ethical outlook based on the notions of challenge and creativity—an outlook that involves a radical reevaluation of the role and significance of suffering in human existence.

Replete with deeply original insights on many familiar—and frequently misunderstood—Nietzschean concepts, Reginster's book will be essential to anyone approaching this towering figure of Western intellectual history.

Nectarios G. Limnatis - Review of Metaphysics

A well written and thoughtful book...Impressive and provocative...The argumentation is clear, persuasive, and innovative...The discussion of existing interpretations (those of Clark, Kaufmann, Lowith, Nehamas, and several others) is exemplary: it is careful and tranquil, thoughtful and engaging.

Annotation Among all the great thinkers of the past two hundred years, Nietzsche continues to occupy a special place--not only for a broad range of academics but also for members of a wider public, who find some of their most pressing existential concerns addressed in his works. Central among these concerns is the question of the meaning of a life characterized by inescapable suffering, at a time when the traditional responses inspired by Christianity are increasingly losing their credibility. While most recent studies of Nietzsche's works have lost sight of this fundamental issue, Bernard Reginster's book The Affirmation of Life brings it sharply into focus. Reginster identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche's philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his main ideas. In particular, Reginster's work develops an original and elegant interpretation of the will to power, which convincingly explains how Nietzsche uses this doctrine to mount a critique of the dominant Christian values, to overcome the nihilistic despair they produce, and to determine the conditions of a new affirmation of life. Thus, Reginster attributes to Nietzsche a compelling substantive ethical outlook based on the notions of challenge and creativity--an outlook that involves a radical reevaluation of the role and significance of suffering in human existence. Replete with deeply original insights on many familiar--and frequently misunderstood--Nietzschean concepts, Reginster's book will be essential to anyone approaching this towering figure of Western intellectual history "Among all the great thinkers of the past two hundred years, Nietzsche continues to occupy a special place - not only for a broad range of academics but also for members of a wider public, who find some of their most pressing existential concerns addressed in his works. Central among these concerns is the question of the meaning of a life characterized by inescapable suffering, at a time when the traditional responses inspired by Christianity are increasingly losing their credibility. While most recent studies of Nietzsche's works have lost sight of this fundamental issue, Bernard Reginster's book The Affirmation of Life brings it sharply into focus." "Reginster identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche's philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his main ideas. In particular, Reginster's work develops an original and elegant interpretation of the will to power, which convincingly explains how Nietzsche uses this doctrine to mount a critique of the dominant Christian values, to overcome the nihilistic despair they produce, and to determine the conditions of a new affirmation of life. Thus, Reginster attributes to Nietzsche a compelling substantive ethical outlook based on the notions of challenge and creativity - an outlook that involves a radical reevaluation of the role and significance of suffering in human existence."--Jacket While most recent studies of Nietzsche's works have lost sight of the fundamental question of the meaning of a life characterized by inescapable suffering, Bernard Reginster's book The Affirmation of Life brings it sharply into focus. Reginster identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche's philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his main ideas Most recent studies of Nietzsche’s works have lost sight of the fundamental question of the meaning of a life of inescapable suffering, but Reginster brings it sharply into focus. He identifies overcoming nihilism as a central objective of Nietzsche’s philosophical project, and shows how this concern systematically animates all of his major ideas.