The Gay Science | Friedrich Nietzsche

In this video, we're discussing The Gay Science written by Friedrich Nietzsche.

Published in 1882, this book was one Nietzsche's most famous works and contains almost all of his core concepts including: Will To Power, Eternal Recurrence, God is Dead, etc. Within these 383 aphorisms, we read attacks on morality, German culture, and the natural sciences. But we also see thoughtful solutions and life-affirming values.

This video is part of my 5-part Nietzsche November series where I'm breaking down one of Nietzsche's books each week, exploring the key themes and core concepts within the text.

Please share your thoughts on this book or these ideas in the comments below!

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
1:41 - Meaning of the Title
5:10 - Book Structure
6:11 - "God is dead" / Religious Decline
22:19 - Leisure & Excess Work
26:19 - Criticisms of Morality
30:03 - Pity & Suffering
33:30 - Eternal Recurrence
34:48 - Will To Power
36:45 - Individual Vs. Society
41:09 - Provocative Quotes
44:16 - Wrap Up

#nietzsche #philosophy

[CincySmokeSignals]

What a cool channel to just stumble upon.

[Fall__Forward]

Honestly my favorite thing that I've discovered in beginning Nietzsche is his philosophy on life

Coming into it I expected some pretty heavy nihilistic attitudes. And sure, they're there. He seeks to tear down the moral foundations of society, after all. But it isn't all doom and gloom -- the point of tearing them down, even, is to begin anew and push onward. He also says we should pursue JOY of all things. The man classically given as an example of a nihilist (at least I was when I first got into philosophy and asked what Nietzsche was all about) says you should pursue joy, you should pursue art and feel unified/feel the oneness of humanity, you should dance through life. Even the most serious pursuit of knowledge can be done joyously.

I don't know, I do just get this wonderful feeling (beyond the one I get from contemplation) when reading some of the aphorisms from this book.

[Coderama]

Leaving this comment, before u become famous

[workhorsetraining]

17:17: With the madman having "come too early." I think Nietzsche's madman and Zarathustra's similarities are useful here. I've always read the madman as a prophet of sorts, in the same way Zarathustra thinks of himself. Just as Zarathustra's overman is laughed at by the townspeople, so are the madman's ideas.

Nietzsche also speaks of the future calamity resulting from the death of God similarly to the society of the "last man" in Zarathustra. In both cases, this apocalyptic event is far off in the future, and the madman and Zarathustra are just the first to "sense" it, like a sailor on the top of the mast just barely seeing the iceberg.

So I don't think Nietzsche is predicting a "return" to God, he's simply predicting that future catastrophe of moral relativism and resulting worshipping of totalitarianism masquerading as the new God

[jordostrikoff]

Love your videos! Great video but I felt like you glossed over the eternal recurrence, it’s Nietzsches most life changing idea, the recipe for amor fati, and a excellent decision making tool. >>>>Would I do this thing if I had to live it for eternity?<<<<

[judgementkazzy]

Have you read his books before or r u really reading them so fast?

[m.dgaius]

It's eternal recurrence. Not eternal reOccurence.