Nietzsche vs. Heidegger on “The Will to Power” vs. “Meditative Thinking”

In this lecture series, Dr. Peter Kreeft examines key ideas in philosophy by comparing and contrasting two representative philosophers in each episode.

In lecture 9, Dr. Kreeft discusses Nietzsche, whose views on truth and meaning created something of a catastrophe in the history of philosophy. Heidegger tried to dig his way out of the ruins created by Nietzsche by appealing to what he called Sein—“Being itself.”

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[ThomasAHeiss]

Like almost everything I have read and heard by Peter Kreeft so far, this lecture is illuminating in its precision, surety of judgement and balanced sympathy for the subjects dealt with: nourishment for soul and mind. Thank you for producing this series, and for making it available. This is priceless!
If I may make a suggestion or request: It would be excellent if there were a version of this without the musical soundtrack. I for one would greatly appreciate that since, to me, the sounds are a bit distracting.

[hrabmv]

87 y old! professor....simply amaaazing :))🎉🎉

[ReclusiveAsta]

Informative and enlightening, thank you Dr. Kreeft

[Hengpar]

He is mistaken about Nietzsche on many fundamental subjects.

[lgude]

I have been studying Husserl and practicing his Phenomenological Reduction which he called a self meditation. Heidegger is difficult for me to come to terms with in relation to Husserl, but in the lecture the connection through meditative thinking finally comes clear. Husserl called it originary thinking, Heidegger inceptual thinking. (And Jung Primordial thinking which I suspect is quite closely related.) But calling it meditative thinking, as opposed to ordinary scientific and technological thinking reminds us of way of being that we have largely lost.

[riassatkarim]

Horrible video. The most egregious interpretation of Nietzschean philosophy on youtube!

[zfierstadt]

Nietzsche didn’t hate jews. This guy needs to read Kaufmann’s translation of Geneology of Morales, in which he had plenty of space in the footnotes to point out any hints of antisemitism. The opposite is true. Nietzsche repeatedly praises the Jews and holds them in higher regard than his German countrymen. Kreeft Jesus-washes this entire lecture, a pity given there is so much richer treasure to dig for in these thinkers ‘ writings. One more reason not to get philosophy from youtube.

[kevinmcinerney]

Not only did Nietszche lose his sanity while pitying a flogged horse. It happened in Turin which falls on the line of st michael the archangel which stretches from mt skellig ireland to mount carmel in Israel. This line is also known as the sword of truth! Ive always found this fascinating.

[clairemcintosh]

What a very gifted man, working for the Lord! Lord save us from Antichrist, from ourselves who sometimes know no better, ourselves who daily fall into the traps, our own traps our own idolatry of selves, our own pride.. Lord Jesus, save us from ourselves, Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything 🙏🏻❤️ Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us, Sacred Heart of Jesus save us.

[Ykpaina]

Oh my WORD ! What a great lecture ! I fell in love with the quest for Being when I was at Mt St Mary's University. Is it any wonder I left and studied secular psychology instead? It is a clever and all too true observation Dr Kreeft has made about Heidegger, one can simply substitute God in place of the word "being" so Being and Time becomes God and Time, and that would make sense since Heidegger was born a Catholic and then became a protestant and then an Agnostic- not an Atheist and then when he finally died, he had a deliberate Catholic Funeral. There is no escape from the truth of Being and that is the Truth of God!

[christophersnedeker]

I've heard this is a bit of a strawman of Nieztche. All this hardcore anti empathy stuff.

[gethimrock]

This series has been incredible. Thank you Dr. Kreeft

[romanyrose]

Uh oh you've got a major problem with how your framing Nietzsche. Thumbs down on this one.

[gofaonepaul]

Thank you for these amazing lectures. For some reason, it's harder to find a few of these lectures on youtube than others. I didn't even know that the lectures on Hegel vs Kierkegaard and this one existed.

[bookkeeperdta]

"Conscience did not die. It took its revenge." That's a line that will stay with me.

[pablogonzalez]

This person doesn't understand Nietzsche. Can't even get the basics right. Don't listen to him.

[Elisha_the_bald_headed_prophet]

I was expecting an accurate comparison of two philosophers' ideas, what I got was a subtle misrepresentation and an irresistibile urge to pee

[hrabmv]

Nietzsche must hv been terribly tormented is somehow painful to hear how astray a human can

[alfonso]

As an avid reader of Nietzsche, it is fascinating to find out about Heidegger's ideas over the calulated and the meditative side of man and how IDENTICAL they are of Nietzsche's, Greece influenced, dissection of the psyche into the Apollonian and Dionysian. One side responsible for retrospection and forethought and the other for just being. Thank you Dr. Kreeft!

[kiwifromchowder]

It's worth noting that Nietzsche believed that Christianity saved man from falling into practical and theoretical nihilism. He also didn't think going back to paganism was possible, or even desirable. Also, Heidegger eventually returned to Catholicism. Otherwise great lecture.