This is an outstanding presentation. It shows that convoluted, compound/complex sentences with endless levels of parenthetical phrases, is not the only way to present the subject. Thank you.
Yes, there almost is an infinite way to skin (this)a cat/egory, haha , nietzshe lectures are like music to my weary ears. It's like he was perhaps "reincarnated" 3.6.84 and my physical body became the vessel. I can't wait to explore all of his work. I will not give in to the madness, I have separated myself from the "herd" May peace be with all whom seek it... Samson Charles Marti Sr.
Nietzsche always makes me think of the moment when I discover that in Spanish (my mother tongue), just like in other romance languages, Villain originally meant "the dweller of a small town (villa)". Which... it has some practical through to it but, one can easily argue that appearing "moral" is easy when having the economic means
I am extremely grateful for your videos - I use them as supplement to my studies and as a different perspective, from my own professors. I find that your ,often straight forward, approach is very helpful when dealing with continental philosophers as their poetic and sometimes cryptic language can be quite the 'brain-twister'. I'm looking forward to watching more of your video lectures in the future.
Thank you for this. I read this book twenty years ago, and I turn back to it from time to time to seek clarity. You have improved the quality of my life, with this.
I read Nietzsche in college and understood it. I am a graduate school College Professor and I enjoy the way you structure your arguments and synopsis. I am reading the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Hommo, one of his best works. This is refreshing to me.
There are parallels to be sure. And, yes, some of what Nietzsche says can provide a good insight into how a sociopath would think about many matters -- as would Hobbes. I'm not keen on what strike me as over-reductive explanations, in particular "biological proofs", especially when it comes to great philosophers who articulate quite complex theories in their works. So, no, I'd say there are interesting parallels, but not go much further
He would still evaluate them as the weak. Their will to power would not actually be greater for any one of them, considered individually, only as a mass. They're weak for Nietzsche precisely because, measured against the strong, they fail, they give in, they don't self-assert. The way they ensnare the strong is be attempting to use -- not even develop (the "priest" does that) -- new weapons against the strong. But, running through it is their strong = evil, non-evil = good = weak valuation
You're welcome -- and thanks very much in return for clicking on the ads. Yes, we run the ads because it provides a little income (and thus working funds) for ReasonIO (our consulting/content production company, basically my nearly-full-time job at this point, besides teaching part-time at Marist). I have to observe, of course, that academic UA-cam videos are not huge draws -- but you don't get into, let alone stay, in this racket for the big bucks!
Actually, this one is shot at my home office -- on the blackboard we bought. Marist gives me plenty of space, but I've got less occasion to talk about Nietzsche in my Intro and Ethics classes there. So, Nietzsche and anti-semitism -- it can't all be written off as introduced to his works by his sister (actually more a matter of editing, cutting certain passages out). He does really think that the Jewish race is marked by ressentiment (though not, e.g. the warriors in the book of Judges).
Copyright it by adding that to the pages, and then self-publish. My case is something very different -- academic publishing. I had to go through about 2 years of hoop-jumping with CUA Press to get it published
Well, since in the playlist you'll find 4 videos devoted to the Genealogy, you can figure that I don't stick to the original plan of one video per essay. If you're asking whether I do a sum-up of my own views on Nietzsche, you won't actually find that -- my approach is to do fairly little of that, and stick more with explaining what is going on in the text
I've listened to them enough to see that it's a bit "hit and miss". The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps is more my kind of thing. A guest? I don't know -- they panned one of my videos a while back in their blog, a bit uncharitably, and without doing much research to see if I'd actually said anything else about Sartre (which I had). They don't seem to have a lot of guests in the podcasts -- but if you want to suggest me to them, feel free. Glad the videos have been helpful for you
An important question: he definitely does not think that this conflict is going on inside of most people. The majority of them are the herd, the sick ones, in his view. Interestingly, there could be some people in whom this conflict is going on, but they don't recognize it, or even conceal that from themselves, permitting perhaps evil-good valuation to dominate over more primordial good-bad one. To recognize, not to mention to embrace this conflict, and the good-bad valuation, involves choice
I'm glad the videos are helpful. It couldn't hurt to go to college, I'd say -- but we also need way more young people going into the skilled trades, so that's not a bad way to go either (from someone whose family members are mainly in the trades) 17 was about the age when I first encountered Existentialist philosophy myself -- it was pretty heady stuff, and gave me an articulation for some things I'd been trying to think out on my own (one reason it's of perennial value, I think)
Well, there's plenty of websites out there that have some of the stuff. If you go to my Sadler's Existentialist Updates blog, and then click on the resources, I've got links to some of them
Yet again, thanks for making these videos, they help me so much to understand the thinkers arguments. I particularly enjoy your approach of sticking to the texts! I can clearly see what you describe in the text itself, only you clarify some notions I didn't understand, some connexions I couldn't make by myself by lack of knowledge, etc.
Yes, there's a need for videos where we do exactly that - present what the thinker says, within the structure of the text. After all, the thinker took the time to write it - if they'd wanted just a 5 minute summary, they'd have done that instead!
Nothing really so much wrong with Kaufmann, I suppose. I used to really like him myself, and get in extended arguments on the part of Kaufmann's Nietzsche against another grad student who was all for Rosen's Nietzsche. I just think some of the other commentators have more interesting things to say. I'm also not so big on his more global interpretation of Existentialism -- who gets in, who doesn't, who's considered important, who's not, etc.
Yep -- those luminaries are among the English "psychologists", but also a lot of third-rate nonentities of his on time. He mentions, for example, Paul Ree. Really, even Spencer, who Nietzsche says at least didn't buy into this "forgetting" notion, is - when you look at him from our later vantage point -- at best a second-rate thinker. I'd say that you're right -- it's about attacking the Enlightenment -- so not just Brits, but also French and German thinkers
This is the best video series on Neitzsche on youtube. Very in depth. I got my BA in Political science and philosophy three years ago. I'm finishing up my J.D. now and this is how I continue learning about philosophy since I'm too busy reading the law. These videos are great. I agree with others here these are not for beginners. This is not intro to philosophy. These videos are more for people that are already out of the cave.
Well, those are a lot of different, though connected, topics. I've discussed some of my own background, how I got into Philosophy -- that sort of thing -- at least parts of the story, in some of my Personal Talks (I've got a playlist for that). I'll be adding to them as well. As far as Research Interests go, I'm all over the map, and perhaps spread a bit too thin! One place you can find out about that in more depth and detail would be my main blog, Orexis Dianoetike.
Prof. Sadler, Have you ever listened to the philosophy podcast "The Partially Examined Life"? It's pretty popular among us undergrad and graduate students. It's pretty relaxed and hilarious at times too. It would be awesome to see you as a guest on one of their episodes. Anyway, I really appreciate your videos and I think you're doing a great service for the public for being so consistent in your uploads. You make philosophy much more palatable for me, so thanks again.
Coffee, most likely. If one is a nihilist, that doesn't mean that one automatically has no reason for getting out or bed, or that one values absolutely nothing -- it means that there's no overarching value or scheme of values that can put everything into global perspective. Locally, from moment to moment, situation to situation, one can still function, even value things
25 min in: Taking into account what you have here said--and holding this against my own studies--I may be able to suggest something like this: Nietzsche takes the basis of morals very seriously. In locating this aristocratic/bigman basis for our values, and in holding competing value systems against one another, he is inviting us to look within ourselves, finding our own instincts, virtues, values--our own power--and treating ourselves as creators, authorities, and contributors to morality...
Sartre is definitely not the "father of existentialism". If anyone Kierkegaard deserves that title. Existential philosophy is well underway early in the 20th century with people like Shestov, who connects themes of Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and Nietzsche, and Jaspers, among others. Marcel coins the "-ism" word before Sartre begins using it
Yep, that too -- though the will can certainly be, and in many cases is, fundamentally passive. It's just up to each will whether it will be active or passive/reactive
I had read 5 of Nietzsche's books before this but Genealogy posed many problems/questions. Thank you for clarifying this..really, really excellent work, and well done to your dog for staying quiet :)
Well, it's a phenomenon that's quite old, in its essence -- Plato is already discussing the power of appeals to the masses, to public opinion (as opposed to knowledge), and the rise of demagogues. It becomes a particularly modern problem, however, as a media-driven matter. And -- though not in terms of politics as such -- you can find people like Kierkegaard very concerned about these matters in his work, The Present Age (not least since he had been unfairly caricatured in the press. . . )
In september I begin the third (final) year of my philosophy undergraduate degree (UK), and I have chosen a module which will focus around Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals. Having never read Nietzsche before, I thought I'd familiarise myself with him and especially this book before starting the new academic year, and this video has been a massive help in helping me understand Nietzsche's thought, and making what he writes more digestible. Thank you, Dr. Sadler!
Thank you for this series! I'm working on Nietzsche for my Dissertation, this is fantastic. Keep up the great work; im getting my degree thanks to finding your videos, I hope you know how good they are!
Well, the simple and straightforward noble/strong is not all that easy to find in modernity, Nietzsche seems to think. And, they are perhaps not even up to digging their way out of the situation of morality they've been stuck in. So, I'd say, Yes, the ubermench is going to have to be someone who does have that battle or conflict within themselves -- not necessarily remaining in it, though. Now as to the last question, for N, I don't think a G-E and G-B could be real friends with each other
I have in the past, at previous jobs -- but I'm not an expert, specialized in, e.g. Chinese or Indian thought, and I don't have the source languages, so I can't read that stuff in the original when I'd need to
In many ways, Sartre (and Camus and de Beauvoir) is really coming at the end of Existentialism, at least as a movement There were actually quite a few other existentialist thinkers at the time, who simply got much less press than Sartre, but who seem equally interesting.
Ressentiment "The claim to equality, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior. What it expresses is precisely the itching, smarting, writhing awareness of an inferiority which we refuse to accept. And therefore resents. Yes, and therefore resents every kind of superiority in others; denigrates it; wishes its annihilation." [C.S.Lewis, Screwtape Letterrs].
Well, at bottom, it ends up involving some performative contradictions. If one did begin from the starting point that moral values are something merely secondary, i.e. that we inhabit a universe that does not have or produce any more values, except through sentient beings, then I suppose it would make sense as a meta-ethics. I tend to be more interested in what people -- who really don't entirely believe in it -- use moral relativism to do, to push onto others, to evade responsibility, etc.
Yeah. . . I think anyone giving it a bit of thought can probably figure out that I put in a LOT of time and work creating this video material. And, a "please" out of nowhere, no other context, with just an imperative after it -- where I come from, that is a demand, actually. Is this really that important of a point for you to make to me on behalf of some other viewer? Again, if people want more than what I'm already providing for free, maybe they volunteer, or contribute, and then "request"
By "over-reductives explanations" do you mean explanations that enforce a rather pedestrian interpretation of a complex subject, making it seem so simple that further research becomes kinda boring?
Thanks for these videos, I'm only 17 myself and have been sorta back and forth with whether I'm going to college, but I've always had a massive interest in philosophy, especially Absurdism, Nihilism, and Existentialism, and so it's great to have a nice dynamic examination of works like this.
Well, the weak can overbear, can hem in the strong -- but they still remain, in Nietzsche's view, the weak. As to the point you're trying to articulate -- keep at it!
I have an exam coming up and I am writing on the GofM. I've been playing your videos to grasp a clear understanding of Nietzsche's thoughts here. I found myself very stuck at points and Nietzsche was driving me insane. But you have simplified it and explained it. Thank you!
So to clarify did the priestly caste "take over" from the nobles as the masters of the slaves, or were they in support of and championing the common man's lowly attributes?
Gregory B. Sadler Many thanks again for taking the time over this...N resonates with me; I want to make sure I have understood his concepts explicitly.
I always appreciate these lectures. Herbert Spenser also appeared in Alcoholics Anonymous. I am not sure of any relevance for this lecture, or if i'm just trying to impress. Here is a quote about it here: Contempt prior to investigation This quote first appeared in a story in the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous on page 380. The quote began the story "An Artist's Concept": AN ARTIST'S CONCEPT "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." --HERBERT SPENCER The story was dropped from subsequent editions and the quote was moved to appear at the end of Appendix II called "Spiritual Experience". This would be on page 570 in the Third Edition and on Page_____ in the Fourth Edition. Spencer was a very widely known English philosopher, scientist, theologian during the 1800's. He was also among the creators of the field of sociology. He was among the greatest minds of Victorian England.
Nietzsche would not find a home in any of our present political parties, I think -- though perhaps he'd take some delight in what goes on in the party machinations -- the power-plays within that are part of any political party.
Thank you for making this video it has helped me with understanding this reading for an online course I am taking. You explain this very well and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of your helpful videos!
I think we've already had this conversation. Just to name a few, I'd much rather read and grapple with the interpretations of Shestov, Scheler, Heidegger, Rosen, Deleuze. . . hell, even Kaufmann. When it comes to interesting interpretations of Nietzsche, there's literally hundreds out there available. Leiter's is only one of many. When it comes down to it, though, I'd always rather spend a lot less time reading secondary lit on a thinker than reading and rereading the thinker him- or herself
Not a problem -- the joking. It is in deed somewhat tight quarters. That's unfortunate, that they didn't introduce you to Nietzsche in your college education -- really,they ought to have done so. But, our education system is anything but a "system"!
Thank you so much. I don't have access to these books and it helps that, until I am able, there are Instructors out there that sincerely enjoy the sharing of ideas and Education. You Dr., are a hero.
Tell you what -- you can field the question the next time a viewer, getting something labor-intensive for free "requests" something still more labor intensive for free. You'll just need to respond to them in a comment -- that can be your volunteer work. This is all the time this is going to get -- you're right. The better thing would be to have simply ignored your first comment, and spent more time with the 100 or so comments I get (and answer per day). Yeah. . . you could be wrong.
Oh, that is awesome. Thanks for doing that, these videos are great. I was just making a good-natured joke, sort of. Not a very funny one. I went to 4 different colleges and never heard of Nietzsche until I was out of college for a few years and read everything I could find, so that's where it came from. It's good to hear someone who knows what they're talking about.
Thanks for your explanation of complex philosophical ideas and text, really appreciate your thoughts and opinions! You absolutely help normal people understand how to undertake these complex ideas and thoughts, I just wanted to say that you are amazing for giving us your insight for free. Thanks Professor!
Thankyou for your service sir ❤ Pharmacy student here trying to understand life and the truths of existence. You present this in such a digestible way.
Your summation contained in this video of the will to power has become my go-to link-response when dealing with secondary, disruptive forces within various movements, such as now being experienced in the atheist and gamer communities under siege from the ressentiment of clever but lesser thinkers. Well done, sir!
The notion i struggle with now is the definition of warrior relative to the information age, wherein a Bill Gates or Steve Jobs is emblematic of a new kind of alpha-STEM conqueror. And, of course, its relativity as females obtain CEO and world-class athletic accolades; if you will, alpha-personhood. More exactly, my concern is in the collision of brawn vs STEM, especially is developing self esteem and employment opportunities. The issue being boys-at-risk as they are inculcated with brawn-warrior mythology, especially in sports, when future employment and social standing may be more influenced by STEM reality. Consider the plight of young black men from the hood demanding equal rights, without a clue that they are part of lost generations, victims of benign racism which houses blacks without inculcating STEM. Meaning, their white and black benefactors have only addressed the lowest level of the Maslow Hierarchy. In short, these men, in particular alpha male warriors, shall eventually revolt violently as the means to express their inner drive.
I'm not sure if you have talked about this in another video. But I'm curious about what your research interests/personal interests are in regards to Philosophy, or maybe some of you favorite philosophers. Also, not to be asking too many questions, but I'm interested in what initially drew you to study philosophy, and at what point did you realize Philosophy was something you really could do well and enjoy. Was there a specific memory of a sort of "lightbulb" moment when you said to
You're very welcome -- and thank you! I'm a bit surprised to read, though that you're not able to study Nietzsche at your schools. He's pretty mainstream stuff these days
Just one more question (you've already been so kind to me today): Is understanding this condition of war a first quality of the overman? Is this condition central to the character of Ubermensch? The way you said this seemed to suggest to me that Nietzsche--rather than merely highlighting this tension--may have preferred the "good-bad". Did he? Zarathustra wanted not to be followed and wanted to war with his friends. Did he believe one choosing GE and another choosing GB could be great friends?
Finally, you miss the closing chapter of the first section, the philosophers tantalizing parallel to a young science student seeing Einstein's unfinished work. He wanted future students to continue to work on this issue and find out once and for all an order/rank of these different moralities: what is better, letting the group survive (the meek shall inherit the earth) or the individual (the blond beast method) and all the shades inbetween.
firehand1011 This is video 1 of 4. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for later on. Glad though that you could clear up for all of us exactly what Nietzsche's desires were for his readers -- you know, there's been a lot of discussion and disagreement on that topic among scholars and other readers. It's lucky we've got you to clarify that. . .
Gregory B. Sadler "All the sciences have from now on to prepare the way for the future task of the philosophers: this task understood as the solution of the problem of value, the determination of the order of rank among values" Is indeed a continuation of his original desire to inspire the "philosophical physician, in the exceptional sense of the word..." (Gay Science, towards the end of #2 of the Preface) who would have the "courage to follow out [Nietzsche's] suspicion that..." etc. His desire for science that he talks about @ the end of essay 1 in the Genealogy is expressed more fully in #7 of the Gay Science: "Something for the Laborious" ... Nietzsche did indeed want future philosophers to continue in the direction he was heading; his desire for his readers in general who were NOT philosophers is another topic
I like to read/hear about different philosophical theories of our existence. I took Philosophy 101 and was hooked. I like Plato and Descartes' ideas. I understand, though, that these are taught quite often. Is there a book/video/website you can recommend that collects many different existential ideas together? I don't care how crazy the theories sound, I want to hear them.
I have considered in Nietzsche to be very empowering in the "will to power" to define one's self by and realize your power not to give up that power and I wonder if in times of crisis how this can help us. and how Kierkgaard seems to have quelled his exist angst through religion, Nietzsche seemed to have do so in self empowerment and perhaps striving to be the 'super man" or "over man", vs. relying on faith , :leap of faith by Kirkegaard, and Christian : "faith w/o works is dead" as comb. of 2
This is an outstanding presentation. It shows that convoluted, compound/complex sentences
with endless levels of parenthetical phrases, is not the only way to present
the subject. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Yes, there almost is an infinite way to skin (this)a cat/egory, haha , nietzshe lectures are like music to my weary ears. It's like he was perhaps "reincarnated" 3.6.84 and my physical body became the vessel. I can't wait to explore all of his work. I will not give in to the madness, I have separated myself from the "herd"
May peace be with all whom seek it...
Samson Charles Marti Sr.
What makes me get up in the morning? Generally two big dogs wanting their breakfasts
@J winchell Unfortunately, we had to put the last one down last month
Nietzsche always makes me think of the moment when I discover that in Spanish (my mother tongue), just like in other romance languages, Villain originally meant "the dweller of a small town (villa)". Which... it has some practical through to it but, one can easily argue that appearing "moral" is easy when having the economic means
You know, these videos are pretty cool. This man has true dedication to the teachings of philosophy. Good work man keep it up :)
Thanks! Yes, I'm thinking I'll be doing this for quite some time
I am extremely grateful for your videos - I use them as supplement to my studies and as a different perspective, from my own professors. I find that your ,often straight forward, approach is very helpful when dealing with continental philosophers as their poetic and sometimes cryptic language can be quite the 'brain-twister'. I'm looking forward to watching more of your video lectures in the future.
You're welcome -- glad that you're finding the videos helpful
Thank you for this. I read this book twenty years ago, and I turn back to it from time to time to seek clarity. You have improved the quality of my life, with this.
Glad that the video has been helpful for you
I read Nietzsche in college and understood it. I am a graduate school College Professor and I enjoy the way you structure your arguments and synopsis. I am reading the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Hommo, one of his best works. This is refreshing to me.
Glad you’re enjoying it
You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for this!
There are parallels to be sure. And, yes, some of what Nietzsche says can provide a good insight into how a sociopath would think about many matters -- as would Hobbes.
I'm not keen on what strike me as over-reductive explanations, in particular "biological proofs", especially when it comes to great philosophers who articulate quite complex theories in their works.
So, no, I'd say there are interesting parallels, but not go much further
He would still evaluate them as the weak. Their will to power would not actually be greater for any one of them, considered individually, only as a mass.
They're weak for Nietzsche precisely because, measured against the strong, they fail, they give in, they don't self-assert. The way they ensnare the strong is be attempting to use -- not even develop (the "priest" does that) -- new weapons against the strong. But, running through it is their strong = evil, non-evil = good = weak valuation
I’m a simple person- I see Nietzsche, I like
You're welcome -- and thanks very much in return for clicking on the ads.
Yes, we run the ads because it provides a little income (and thus working funds) for ReasonIO (our consulting/content production company, basically my nearly-full-time job at this point, besides teaching part-time at Marist). I have to observe, of course, that academic UA-cam videos are not huge draws -- but you don't get into, let alone stay, in this racket for the big bucks!
Actually, this one is shot at my home office -- on the blackboard we bought. Marist gives me plenty of space, but I've got less occasion to talk about Nietzsche in my Intro and Ethics classes there.
So, Nietzsche and anti-semitism -- it can't all be written off as introduced to his works by his sister (actually more a matter of editing, cutting certain passages out). He does really think that the Jewish race is marked by ressentiment (though not, e.g. the warriors in the book of Judges).
This lecture is great. Thank you for your commitment.
starting a sequence on a new work in the Existentialism series
Copyright it by adding that to the pages, and then self-publish.
My case is something very different -- academic publishing. I had to go through about 2 years of hoop-jumping with CUA Press to get it published
Well, since in the playlist you'll find 4 videos devoted to the Genealogy, you can figure that I don't stick to the original plan of one video per essay.
If you're asking whether I do a sum-up of my own views on Nietzsche, you won't actually find that -- my approach is to do fairly little of that, and stick more with explaining what is going on in the text
Perhaps so. . . but at this point, we've left discussions about Nietzsche far behind. And, this is a Nietzsche video
It's always tricky to try to use current psychotherapeutic concepts and diagnoses and apply them to people in earlier periods.
8u
I've listened to them enough to see that it's a bit "hit and miss". The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps is more my kind of thing.
A guest? I don't know -- they panned one of my videos a while back in their blog, a bit uncharitably, and without doing much research to see if I'd actually said anything else about Sartre (which I had). They don't seem to have a lot of guests in the podcasts -- but if you want to suggest me to them, feel free.
Glad the videos have been helpful for you
An important question: he definitely does not think that this conflict is going on inside of most people. The majority of them are the herd, the sick ones, in his view.
Interestingly, there could be some people in whom this conflict is going on, but they don't recognize it, or even conceal that from themselves, permitting perhaps evil-good valuation to dominate over more primordial good-bad one. To recognize, not to mention to embrace this conflict, and the good-bad valuation, involves choice
I'm glad the videos are helpful. It couldn't hurt to go to college, I'd say -- but we also need way more young people going into the skilled trades, so that's not a bad way to go either (from someone whose family members are mainly in the trades)
17 was about the age when I first encountered Existentialist philosophy myself -- it was pretty heady stuff, and gave me an articulation for some things I'd been trying to think out on my own (one reason it's of perennial value, I think)
Well, there's plenty of websites out there that have some of the stuff. If you go to my Sadler's Existentialist Updates blog, and then click on the resources, I've got links to some of them
Yes, that's right -- he is advocating a kind of "breaking out" -- the term he uses often is "overcoming"
Yet again, thanks for making these videos, they help me so much to understand the thinkers arguments.
I particularly enjoy your approach of sticking to the texts! I can clearly see what you describe in the text itself, only you clarify some notions I didn't understand, some connexions I couldn't make by myself by lack of knowledge, etc.
Yes, there's a need for videos where we do exactly that - present what the thinker says, within the structure of the text. After all, the thinker took the time to write it - if they'd wanted just a 5 minute summary, they'd have done that instead!
Nothing really so much wrong with Kaufmann, I suppose. I used to really like him myself, and get in extended arguments on the part of Kaufmann's Nietzsche against another grad student who was all for Rosen's Nietzsche. I just think some of the other commentators have more interesting things to say.
I'm also not so big on his more global interpretation of Existentialism -- who gets in, who doesn't, who's considered important, who's not, etc.
Yep -- those luminaries are among the English "psychologists", but also a lot of third-rate nonentities of his on time. He mentions, for example, Paul Ree. Really, even Spencer, who Nietzsche says at least didn't buy into this "forgetting" notion, is - when you look at him from our later vantage point -- at best a second-rate thinker.
I'd say that you're right -- it's about attacking the Enlightenment -- so not just Brits, but also French and German thinkers
You're welcome. Glad you like the videos
This is the best video series on Neitzsche on youtube. Very in depth. I got my BA in Political science and philosophy three years ago. I'm finishing up my J.D. now and this is how I continue learning about philosophy since I'm too busy reading the law. These videos are great.
I agree with others here these are not for beginners. This is not intro to philosophy. These videos are more for people that are already out of the cave.
Glad you enjoy the series. With as many videos as I've got now, I'm sure there's at least some at each level
I am currently writing interpretation of Genealogy of Morals to school and listening to this helps so much! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Well, those are a lot of different, though connected, topics.
I've discussed some of my own background, how I got into Philosophy -- that sort of thing -- at least parts of the story, in some of my Personal Talks (I've got a playlist for that). I'll be adding to them as well.
As far as Research Interests go, I'm all over the map, and perhaps spread a bit too thin! One place you can find out about that in more depth and detail would be my main blog, Orexis Dianoetike.
Prof. Sadler,
Have you ever listened to the philosophy podcast "The Partially Examined Life"? It's pretty popular among us undergrad and graduate students. It's pretty relaxed and hilarious at times too. It would be awesome to see you as a guest on one of their episodes.
Anyway, I really appreciate your videos and I think you're doing a great service for the public for being so consistent in your uploads. You make philosophy much more palatable for me, so thanks again.
Coffee, most likely.
If one is a nihilist, that doesn't mean that one automatically has no reason for getting out or bed, or that one values absolutely nothing -- it means that there's no overarching value or scheme of values that can put everything into global perspective. Locally, from moment to moment, situation to situation, one can still function, even value things
Thanks -- very nice of you to say so
25 min in: Taking into account what you have here said--and holding this against my own studies--I may be able to suggest something like this: Nietzsche takes the basis of morals very seriously. In locating this aristocratic/bigman basis for our values, and in holding competing value systems against one another, he is inviting us to look within ourselves, finding our own instincts, virtues, values--our own power--and treating ourselves as creators, authorities, and contributors to morality...
Sartre is definitely not the "father of existentialism". If anyone Kierkegaard deserves that title. Existential philosophy is well underway early in the 20th century with people like Shestov, who connects themes of Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and Nietzsche, and Jaspers, among others.
Marcel coins the "-ism" word before Sartre begins using it
great work,i finished genealogy for second time and analysis is good,and definitly its Nietzsche best work.
Glad you enjoyed the work and the commentary
Yep, that too -- though the will can certainly be, and in many cases is, fundamentally passive. It's just up to each will whether it will be active or passive/reactive
It's taken me two times to catch it: you are very good, even better on the second viewing.
Thanks! I've gotta say, though: it's a lot easier when you've got material like Nietzsche (or any great philosopher) to talk about
I had read 5 of Nietzsche's books before this but Genealogy posed many problems/questions. Thank you for clarifying this..really, really excellent work, and well done to your dog for staying quiet :)
You're very welcome!
This helps my understanding so much. Thank you!
You’re welcome
Well, it's a phenomenon that's quite old, in its essence -- Plato is already discussing the power of appeals to the masses, to public opinion (as opposed to knowledge), and the rise of demagogues. It becomes a particularly modern problem, however, as a media-driven matter. And -- though not in terms of politics as such -- you can find people like Kierkegaard very concerned about these matters in his work, The Present Age (not least since he had been unfairly caricatured in the press. . . )
In september I begin the third (final) year of my philosophy undergraduate degree (UK), and I have chosen a module which will focus around Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals. Having never read Nietzsche before, I thought I'd familiarise myself with him and especially this book before starting the new academic year, and this video has been a massive help in helping me understand Nietzsche's thought, and making what he writes more digestible. Thank you, Dr. Sadler!
You're very welcome
These ideas are very revealing on our society, interpersonal interactions and even struggles within myself.
There's good reasons we're still reading Nietzsche
Thank you for this series! I'm working on Nietzsche for my Dissertation, this is fantastic.
Keep up the great work; im getting my degree thanks to finding your videos, I hope you know how good they are!
+Utterly Relevant Glad the videos have been helpful for your work!
Well, the simple and straightforward noble/strong is not all that easy to find in modernity, Nietzsche seems to think. And, they are perhaps not even up to digging their way out of the situation of morality they've been stuck in.
So, I'd say, Yes, the ubermench is going to have to be someone who does have that battle or conflict within themselves -- not necessarily remaining in it, though.
Now as to the last question, for N, I don't think a G-E and G-B could be real friends with each other
I have in the past, at previous jobs -- but I'm not an expert, specialized in, e.g. Chinese or Indian thought, and I don't have the source languages, so I can't read that stuff in the original when I'd need to
It could, but doesn't need to. There's no intrinsic connection between the two. Naturalism involves quite a number of committments
This is very thought provoking, I need to let these ideas sit in my head for a while
Well, if the video was thought provoking, the text should be even more so
Fantastic lecture, sir! Thank you so much for making this available to us. I am eager to move on to the next in the series.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there's plenty more Nietzsche videos in the playlist
great work, but it would have been helpful if you cited which aphorisms you were reading so I could follow along but great work overall.
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoy them
In many ways, Sartre (and Camus and de Beauvoir) is really coming at the end of Existentialism, at least as a movement
There were actually quite a few other existentialist thinkers at the time, who simply got much less press than Sartre, but who seem equally interesting.
Ressentiment "The claim to equality, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior. What it expresses is precisely the itching, smarting, writhing awareness of an inferiority which we refuse to accept. And therefore resents. Yes, and therefore resents every kind of superiority in others; denigrates it; wishes its annihilation." [C.S.Lewis, Screwtape Letterrs].
Well, at bottom, it ends up involving some performative contradictions. If one did begin from the starting point that moral values are something merely secondary, i.e. that we inhabit a universe that does not have or produce any more values, except through sentient beings, then I suppose it would make sense as a meta-ethics.
I tend to be more interested in what people -- who really don't entirely believe in it -- use moral relativism to do, to push onto others, to evade responsibility, etc.
I'll take a look at it, and see if it will be a useful resource for students.
Yeah. . . I think anyone giving it a bit of thought can probably figure out that I put in a LOT of time and work creating this video material.
And, a "please" out of nowhere, no other context, with just an imperative after it -- where I come from, that is a demand, actually.
Is this really that important of a point for you to make to me on behalf of some other viewer? Again, if people want more than what I'm already providing for free, maybe they volunteer, or contribute, and then "request"
By "over-reductives explanations" do you mean explanations that enforce a rather pedestrian interpretation of a complex subject, making it seem so simple that further research becomes kinda boring?
Thanks for these videos, I'm only 17 myself and have been sorta back and forth with whether I'm going to college, but I've always had a massive interest in philosophy, especially Absurdism, Nihilism, and Existentialism, and so it's great to have a nice dynamic examination of works like this.
What did you end up studying?
Well, you are in luck then! -- Just finished shooting part 2
Well, the weak can overbear, can hem in the strong -- but they still remain, in Nietzsche's view, the weak.
As to the point you're trying to articulate -- keep at it!
Thank you for the free lectures. I do click and view all of your adds because I figure it's the least I can do.
I have an exam coming up and I am writing on the GofM. I've been playing your videos to grasp a clear understanding of Nietzsche's thoughts here. I found myself very stuck at points and Nietzsche was driving me insane. But you have simplified it and explained it. Thank you!
PocahontasButter Glad the videos were useful for you!
So to clarify did the priestly caste "take over" from the nobles as the masters of the slaves, or were they in support of and championing the common man's lowly attributes?
+Nick Whittle (Nick John Whittle) Well, it's more complex than either one of those alone -- you'll see N. discussing that as the work proceeds
Gregory B. Sadler Many thanks again for taking the time over this...N resonates with me; I want to make sure I have understood his concepts explicitly.
I always appreciate these lectures. Herbert Spenser also appeared in Alcoholics Anonymous. I am not sure of any relevance for this lecture, or if i'm just trying to impress. Here is a quote about it here:
Contempt prior to investigation
This quote first appeared in a story in the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous on page 380. The quote began the story "An Artist's Concept":
AN ARTIST'S CONCEPT
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER
The story was dropped from subsequent editions and the quote was moved to appear at the end of Appendix II called "Spiritual Experience". This would be on page 570 in the Third Edition and on Page_____ in the Fourth Edition.
Spencer was a very widely known English philosopher, scientist, theologian during the 1800's. He was also among the creators of the field of sociology. He was among the greatest minds of Victorian England.
Nietzsche would not find a home in any of our present political parties, I think -- though perhaps he'd take some delight in what goes on in the party machinations -- the power-plays within that are part of any political party.
Well, down the line, I'll be shooting some. After this sequence finishes, I've got some Shestov and Marcel lined up next
Thank you for making this video it has helped me with understanding this reading for an online course I am taking. You explain this very well and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of your helpful videos!
Glad it was helpful for you
I think we've already had this conversation.
Just to name a few, I'd much rather read and grapple with the interpretations of Shestov, Scheler, Heidegger, Rosen, Deleuze. . . hell, even Kaufmann. When it comes to interesting interpretations of Nietzsche, there's literally hundreds out there available. Leiter's is only one of many.
When it comes down to it, though, I'd always rather spend a lot less time reading secondary lit on a thinker than reading and rereading the thinker him- or herself
Glad you do -- I enjoy this sort of stuff too!
Thank you! Been eagerly awaiting more Nietzsche since Birth of Tragedy, much appreciated.
Me as well -- and of entirely missing entire portions of the map of philosophy (not just eastern portions, but core western portions as well)
This is really solid. Great resource--thank you.
You're very welcome
Thank you
I think the Genealogy is the best place for a beginner to start with Nietzsche
Well, you've got Nietzsche's answer here in the video, and in his text. There's many other answers in the history of philosophy
Not a problem -- the joking. It is in deed somewhat tight quarters.
That's unfortunate, that they didn't introduce you to Nietzsche in your college education -- really,they ought to have done so. But, our education system is anything but a "system"!
Thank you so much. I don't have access to these books and it helps that, until I am able, there are Instructors out there that sincerely enjoy the sharing of ideas and Education. You Dr., are a hero.
You're very welcome!
Tell you what -- you can field the question the next time a viewer, getting something labor-intensive for free "requests" something still more labor intensive for free. You'll just need to respond to them in a comment -- that can be your volunteer work.
This is all the time this is going to get -- you're right. The better thing would be to have simply ignored your first comment, and spent more time with the 100 or so comments I get (and answer per day).
Yeah. . . you could be wrong.
Well, I'm going to keep on teaching him as an Existentialist. You're welcome to shoot a video response and post it to one of my Nietzsche videos
I don't have any videos on Naturalism as such
Oh, that is awesome. Thanks for doing that, these videos are great. I was just making a good-natured joke, sort of. Not a very funny one. I went to 4 different colleges and never heard of Nietzsche until I was out of college for a few years and read everything I could find, so that's where it came from. It's good to hear someone who knows what they're talking about.
Thanks for your explanation of complex philosophical ideas and text, really appreciate your thoughts and opinions! You absolutely help normal people understand how to undertake these complex ideas and thoughts, I just wanted to say that you are amazing for giving us your insight for free. Thanks Professor!
Thankyou for your service sir ❤
Pharmacy student here trying to understand life and the truths of existence. You present this in such a digestible way.
You're welcome - glad it's useful for you
Well, that's nice to hear -- hopefully, because of what you're learning from the videos
Your summation contained in this video of the will to power has become my go-to link-response when dealing with secondary, disruptive forces within various movements, such as now being experienced in the atheist and gamer communities under siege from the ressentiment of clever but lesser thinkers. Well done, sir!
You're welcome! Yes, there is a LOT of ressentiment out there. . .
!q
The notion i struggle with now is the definition of warrior relative to the information age, wherein a Bill Gates or Steve Jobs is emblematic of a new kind of alpha-STEM conqueror. And, of course, its relativity as females obtain CEO and world-class athletic accolades; if you will, alpha-personhood.
More exactly, my concern is in the collision of brawn vs STEM, especially is developing self esteem and employment opportunities. The issue being boys-at-risk as they are inculcated with brawn-warrior mythology, especially in sports, when future employment and social standing may be more influenced by STEM reality.
Consider the plight of young black men from the hood demanding equal rights, without a clue that they are part of lost generations, victims of benign racism which houses blacks without inculcating STEM. Meaning, their white and black benefactors have only addressed the lowest level of the Maslow Hierarchy. In short, these men, in particular alpha male warriors, shall eventually revolt violently as the means to express their inner drive.
Ruiqi Mao You're clueless....
How so?
I think I could just listen to you all day long
I'm not sure if you have talked about this in another video. But I'm curious about what your research interests/personal interests are in regards to Philosophy, or maybe some of you favorite philosophers. Also, not to be asking too many questions, but I'm interested in what initially drew you to study philosophy, and at what point did you realize Philosophy was something you really could do well and enjoy. Was there a specific memory of a sort of "lightbulb" moment when you said to
You're very welcome -- and thank you! I'm a bit surprised to read, though that you're not able to study Nietzsche at your schools. He's pretty mainstream stuff these days
He makes lecturing look so easy. Quite brilliant.
Thanks!
Just one more question (you've already been so kind to me today): Is understanding this condition of war a first quality of the overman? Is this condition central to the character of Ubermensch? The way you said this seemed to suggest to me that Nietzsche--rather than merely highlighting this tension--may have preferred the "good-bad". Did he? Zarathustra wanted not to be followed and wanted to war with his friends. Did he believe one choosing GE and another choosing GB could be great friends?
These videos are brilliant! Thank you so much, I have been able to learn so much more about Philosophers I don't study at school.
You're very welcome!
I love this lecture, very well done. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Your content is great. Once you get your audio down, you’ll get way more listening time
Why don't you look at the release date?
I’ve got nothing unique to add here however just wanted to thank you as well. Really great presentation
Will do!
Well, keep in mind that Nietzsche sees the complex person as a battleground for these different kinds of valuation
Finally, you miss the closing chapter of the first section, the philosophers tantalizing parallel to a young science student seeing Einstein's unfinished work. He wanted future students to continue to work on this issue and find out once and for all an order/rank of these different moralities: what is better, letting the group survive (the meek shall inherit the earth) or the individual (the blond beast method) and all the shades inbetween.
firehand1011 This is video 1 of 4. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for later on.
Glad though that you could clear up for all of us exactly what Nietzsche's desires were for his readers -- you know, there's been a lot of discussion and disagreement on that topic among scholars and other readers. It's lucky we've got you to clarify that. . .
Gregory B. Sadler "All the sciences have from now on to prepare the way for the future task of the philosophers: this task understood as the solution of the problem of value, the determination of the order of rank among values" Is indeed a continuation of his original desire to inspire the "philosophical physician, in the exceptional sense of the word..." (Gay Science, towards the end of #2 of the Preface) who would have the "courage to follow out [Nietzsche's] suspicion that..." etc.
His desire for science that he talks about @ the end of essay 1 in the Genealogy is expressed more fully in #7 of the Gay Science: "Something for the Laborious" ...
Nietzsche did indeed want future philosophers to continue in the direction he was heading; his desire for his readers in general who were NOT philosophers is another topic
Thanks, buddy. Sounds like a great opportunity for you to shoot and upload a video. . .
Good studies involve certain habits. Your Nietzsche perspectives are topographical; particularly through - to emulate...Thank you for sharing Dr.
You're welcome!
I like to read/hear about different philosophical theories of our existence. I took Philosophy 101 and was hooked. I like Plato and Descartes' ideas. I understand, though, that these are taught quite often. Is there a book/video/website you can recommend that collects many different existential ideas together? I don't care how crazy the theories sound, I want to hear them.
I cannot thankyou more for your videos on deep academic philosophy lecturers . Hats off to you and wish to see more in future sir
I produce about 250 videos a year. Glad you enjoyed it
You're welcome
I have considered in Nietzsche to be very empowering in the "will to power" to define one's self by and realize your power not to give up that power and I wonder if in times of crisis how this can help us. and how Kierkgaard seems to have quelled his exist angst through religion, Nietzsche seemed to have do so in self empowerment and perhaps striving to be the 'super man" or "over man", vs. relying on faith , :leap of faith by Kirkegaard, and Christian : "faith w/o works is dead" as comb. of 2
Do you know which book Nietzsche talks about "beautifying existence" and living life as an "art work in progress" ?
Not offhand -- these are themes that are there from the start in his works.