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Chapter 6 - An Existential Critique

from Part III - Nietzsche’s Mature Rejection of the ‘Pessimism of Sensibility’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2023

Patrick Hassan
Affiliation:
Cardiff University
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Summary

This chapter addresses why and how, if it is true that pessimism is a psychological condition as opposed to a philosophical belief, Nietzsche takes there to be a requirement to combat pessimism in ways other than the rational-dialectical manner prevalent among philosophers hitherto. The chapter first offers a conceptual analysis of the closely related but distinct notion(s) of ‘nihilism’, before then arguing how the notorious idea of ‘eternal recurrence’ is, contrary to some contemporary interpretations, specifically deployed by Nietzsche as a response to pessimism. The chapter ends by elucidating Nietzsche’s reversion to the view of The Birth of Tragedy that aesthetic experience is solely capable of facilitating life affirmation, and how aesthetic value is not only distinct but also in tension with moral value.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • An Existential Critique
  • Patrick Hassan, Cardiff University
  • Book: Nietzsche's Struggle against Pessimism
  • Online publication: 02 November 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009380287.011
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  • An Existential Critique
  • Patrick Hassan, Cardiff University
  • Book: Nietzsche's Struggle against Pessimism
  • Online publication: 02 November 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009380287.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • An Existential Critique
  • Patrick Hassan, Cardiff University
  • Book: Nietzsche's Struggle against Pessimism
  • Online publication: 02 November 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009380287.011
Available formats
×