Nietzsche's Philosophy in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey

In this video I outline some of Friedrich Nietzsche's key philosophical concepts such as: the death of God, The Superman (Ubermensch), Nihilism from his book thus spoke zarathustra and how they may have influenced Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey

This is a brief film analysis with the use of Nietzsche's philosophy, I am not stating that only these concepts construct the framework of the film.

[misticomontan]

I believe 2OO1: a space odyssey is the deepest and most important film in history, at least compared to any other Hollywood movie. Although I agree that the finale represents the born of the ubermensch and the next evolution of man, I believe the trip reflects more about the morality thesis of Nietzsche than the will of power.

A key role that is not mentioned here is Hal represents an amoral being, far superior than Dave's and all the crew's humans emotions and instincts. Hal represents the missing link between man and ubermensch, since humans alone could've not been able to achieve the last step in order to overcome themselves.

The beginning is just an example of how far humans have come, and how even though are own limitations, man has come to the Moon, but even this stage has to be overcome, and as Nietzsche questions his own thesis, is this even possible in the modern world?

Anyway, great analysis, certainly there's a lot of material and discussions that can be talked for ours about this two genius minds.

PS: Is anybody excited about the Space X launching? I feel is the first step towards the future Kubrick here portraits.

[ParanoidMisanthropia]

This channel is going places man. Keep doing what you are doing!

[mattgilbert]

Reading Nietzsche is like going through the Stargate in 2001. It's amazing and terrifying. If you make it through you won't be the same. He takes your apart, shakes you up to the point where you can *maybe* put yourself back together. And you will be, hopefully, changed for the better.

[ThoughtsonThinking]

Make sure to like, comment and subscribe if you enjoyed the video! 😊

[gracefitzgerald]

This was a pretty bad ass explanation. I just watched this movie two weeks ago on my own and was transfixed. I knew it had Nietzsche’s influences but didn’t comprehend it on the level you just described. What a nice surprise. Please keep making more vids where someone like me ( only 1.5 years into philosophy) can understand these remarkable people.

[allansluis]

An excellent overview and with Nietzsche's presumption that God is a creation of man that needs to be overcome, then the God figure in the film is actually HAL.

[stevenroyalton]

I was looking for something about this for so long. Thank you, for making this! I just subbed, awesome channel!

[H.JamesBirx]

An excellent interpretation of '200: A Space Odyssey' (1968) in terms of Friedrich Nietzsche's evolutionary philosophy of overcoming! Prof. Dr. Dr. H. James Birx, Williamsville, New York

[sprogmonkey]

Great video. Love looking at this film through the lens of Nietzsche, makes so much more sense.

[georgesotiriou]

I think the camel-lion-child metamorphosis is at play here as presented by Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
Dave starts the mission as a camel blindly following orders. He is a Last Man following the instructions of others.
When faced with an existential crisis (Hal trying to kill them all) the Lion awakens in him. He says I want to live.
His will is his alone. Finally after he kills Hal the monolith sets a series of events that transform him into a child. What ever the hell that means. Perhaps an Übermensch who has transcended man. A man who starts like a child and constructs his own personal morality.

[szymonnawrocki]

Great content! Absolutely worth watching

[DailyBach]

ahhh...so Dave Bowman is floating around in nihilistic space, not knowing the purpose of his mission. But, the exact moment he disconnects HAL by the Will to Power, the mission's objective is is revealed to him on that little screen, and meaning has returned.

[elizabethmictian]

New subscriber here *--* if you keep coming up with this amazing content I'm gonna be here till the end of time.

[brunoarnabar]

More Kubrick! Or more world film / philosophy analysis

[deadman]

Thank you so much. I thought I was the only one. I still have to make my own, though, because you missed The Big One.

[virtuerse]

Fantastic video, hope to see similar things.

[DavesArtRoom]

Therefore as Jay Weidner and Rob Ager asserted, the monolith meaning is that of the movie screen: it is the movie screen, so humans are still walking around blind.

[marcihamar]

Do you think there is nietzschien philosophy in Cubriks other films. I think there are examples in the Shining.

[fortunatomartino]

The monolith is a geometric shape
What does the monolith represent?
A platonic perfect form?

[BarefootBeekeeper]

You do know that it was written by Arthur C Clarke?