NIETZSCHE Explained: The Joyful Science | God Is Dead | Eternal Recurrence (Full Analysis)

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The Joyful Science is one of Friedrich Nietzsche’s middle works. As a sort of sequel to Daybreak, it features many of the ideas for which Nietzsche would later become famous.

But when we look at the chronology, we see that the work was also released before his most well-known works such as Beyond Good and Evil, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, The Genealogy of Morals, and Twilight of the Idols and the Antichrist.

Although that’s not the entirely true, because the Joyful Science has an interesting publishing history. The first edition of the work was released in 1882, while a second edition, which added a fifth book and a prelude and appendix with poems, came out in 1887. So in between publishing the first and the second edition, Nietzsche wrote and released his two most famous works: Beyond Good and Evil and Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
And the additions to the second edition will sound very familiar to anyone who has read The Genealogy of Morals.

So in a way, the book we know as the Joyful Science functions as a sort of transition between the intermediate and the late Nietzsche. Many ideas that would come to dominate his thought in his later work, will find their first expression here. The two most notable ideas are the Death of God and the Eternal Recurrence.

In this series, we will discuss those ideas along with other central themes of the works. By the way, we have covered many of Nietzsche’s works right here on the channel. We have a full analysis of Beyond Good and Evil, On The Genealogy of Morals, Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Daybreak, and Ecce Homo. Check the links in the description if you’re interested. If you like analyses like these, we highly recommend you subscribe to the channel and click the Bell button. Thank you!

[WeltgeistYT]

This one took a long while to make. We hope you enjoy it. Likes and comments for the algorithm are always appreciated!

[blackfeatherstill]

The line where the man with a torch is saying "I seek God", reminds me of Diogenes the cynic, when he walk through streets of Greece saying " I am looking for an honest man".

[jeffpritchard]

"Wissenschaft" includes all thinking that is careful, methodological, and motivated by sincere curiosity. You are absolutely right that it is not limited to STEM subjects.

[alohm]

Talk about synchronicity: was just watching (your)Schopenhauer vid, for Nietzsche reasons, and came to your home page to find a surprise. I love your takes on Nietzsche. Refreshing and personal, insightful and thought provoking. Like Nietzsche, you seem to prefer to invoke the audience to decide for themselves. Bravo.

[Sobbouka]

My answer to the question of eternal recurrence since first reading it, has always been that whether or not I participate in recurrence, I likely wouldn't know as I live through each instance of life...and not only that, but also, if it's to be a perfect repetition, then am I not being challenged to live my life as fully as possible so that I can die without regret?
I'm always so thankful for the timing of my introduction to Nietzsche, as it was when I felt like all the meaning in my life had fallen or faded away. His overall tone of positivity and optimism has been a very soothing thing for me. I always want to say more, but I can't figure out how to express it concisely and it always makes me realize just how much skill it takes to put your own thoughts into text with as much detail as I often have noticed Nietzsche does.

Thank you so much for these wonderful Nietzche videos. The context you've given and summaries of the core concepts has been so helpful with parsing and comprehending his works. It's so easy to get overwhelmed between the layered meanings and the influence of modern-views shifting meanings enough that a familiar word becomes archaic.

[CeramicShot]

The scope of this video was very well-conceived. Very good to re-contextualize "God is dead" as well. I think two of the biggest misconceptions regarding Nietzsche are (1) that the "God is dead" passage is gloating rather than deeply perturbed, and (2) that the ubermensch definitely refers to you, the cool misunderstood genius guy that is reading the work. Ironically, wondering "Is the ubermensch describing me?" is possibly the most banal, commonplace thing a person can do while reading Nietzsche.

[amanofnoreputation]

[Nietzsche 's definition of science includes aspects of the humanities.]
This explains some mild confusion I'd had reading Nietzsche myself. Very valuable to hear.

[akilis]

Much underrated channel. Great video as always, they always help me to better understand the complex works of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer! :)

[theletterm]

Love all the videos you do on Nietzsche. I‘m thinking about starting to read one of his books soon for the first time!

[jmiller]

Your work in these videos continues to grow in terms of both clarity of expression and grasp of concept. Really excellent production here.

[fabiodelayao]

I love the tapestry analogy you presented. I really appreciate how you went into the title and defined the different meanings for science back then and now. Thank you 🙏🏿

[noself]

More synchronicity! I just ordered 5 books by Nietzsche (including this one) and will be reviewing your videos on each before reading. Thanks for the excellent work that went into making this video.

[KingSolomon]

Thanks weltgeist for another amazing video! Love your content!

[extensionsorbit]

At about 23:15 you say a video titled "How Nietzsche took on the world" is linked in the description, but it seems you forgot to include the link. Also, I've got to say, I've been enjoying your videos for some time now. Thank you for doing what you do.

[hope_pead]

Finally a philosophy channel as a one stop shop for all western philosophy that intrigues me. Really appreciate your analyses of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, wouldn't have been able to analyze Schopenhauer myself because he is too nihilistic for me to give him a try independently. Much appreciated.

[armchairgravy]

Thank you for covering this book. It's my favorite Nietzsche book as I find it's the pivot point of his thinking. What came before led to this book, what came after was based on ideas in this book. The attitude, the wordplay, and the themes show this is where N learned how to dance with the truth.

[matteonunziocappiello]

I love all of your video, could you do The birth of tragedy next time pls?

[almawlanietzsche]

the fact that bertrand russel, an english philosopher, found nietzschean philosophy "dispicable" just makes nietzsche's critique of english moral philosophy much more true and hilarious.

[adriancioroianu]

Very good video as usual on Nietzsche. You're doing amazing job but as you said, it is not a substitute for reading his works. And not just once. It takes time to click. Love you for doing this!

[_kouyou]

Maybe for the ubermensch video you could talk about Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment