Subject: re: more e.r. Date: Sun, 16 Apr 95 16:04:13 MDT From: "Nathan Bauer" <njbauer-AT-acs.ucalgary.ca> To David Jacobs (et al), I have to take issue with your claim that "most of Nietzsche's work goes against the idea of making other humans into better creatures". Even when he rejects the idea of pity, as Zarathustra does at the end of his tale, he rejects it because of its harmful consequences for humanity. The same is true of his attack on Christian metaphysics and morality (which reminds me--happy Easter to everyone). In fact, why would Nietzsche have written at all if he was not interested in the welfare of others? Regarding the passage from the Gay Science that you cited (#341), I believe that this is an excellent example of a psychological version of eternal return. Nietzsche asks: suppose a demon appeared to you in your "loneliest loneliness" and told you of the e.r. of the same, how would you react? Nietzsche is not presenting a proof of the doctrine, but merely the psychological consequences of the thought. He continues: "If this thought were to gain possession of you, it would change you, as you are, or perhaps crush you. The question in each and every thing, 'Do you want this once more and innumerable times more?' would weigh upon your actions as the greatest stress. Or how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life to crave nothing more fervently than this ultimate eternal confirmation and seal?" Clearly, this passage refers to a psychological rather than physical version of e.r. I believe that this is true of most of his published references to the theory. I also believe that the general absence of physical versions of e.r. in his published works is deliberate and significant (though here I feel more uncertain of myself). Having said this, you may be quite right that Nietzsche also used e.r. to "attack the conceptual and moral framework that dominates our thinking and living". I would add, however, that it seems unlikely that this was the most significant aspect of e.r., for it fails to explain the shocking impact the thought of e.r. had on Nietzsche. (He related this experience in a letter, but I've lost the source. The section on T.S.Z. in ECCE HOMO also captures some of the intensity of his revelation.) Still, I would certainly be interested in hearing more of your thoughts on the subject. Bye for now, Nathan Bauer (njbauer-AT-acs.ucalgary.ca) --- from list nietzsche-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
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