asceticism | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 263: Lise Van Boxel’s “Warspeak” on Strategies for Valuing (Part One)

February 15, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

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On Warspeak: Nietzsche’s Victory Over Nihilism (2020) with Dylan, Seth, and guests Michael Grenke and Jeff Black.

What’s a viable counter-ideal to the asceticism that Nietzsche thought is so pervasive? Lise’s book works out strategies for re-valuing that emphasize Nietzsche’s positive comments about the feminine and the power of words.

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Ep. 263: Lise Van Boxel’s “Warspeak” on Strategies for Valuing (Part One for Supporters)

February 15, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Warspeak: Nietzsche’s Victory Over Nihilism (2020) with Dylan, Seth, and guests Michael Grenke and Jeff Black.

PREVIEW-Ep. 262: Nietzsche on Self-Denial (Part Two)

February 8, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

More on essay three of Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals on the meaning of ascetic ideals. How does asceticism fit into N’s overall morality, and how does he use it to critique scientists?

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Ep. 262: Nietzsche on Self-Denial (Part One)

February 1, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

On Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Genealogy of Morals (1887), “Third essay: what do ascetic ideals mean?”

Self-denial is necessary for disciplined action but can clearly go too far. N uses this concept of asceticism to analyze both geniuses and the masses. It’s a chief tool of the will to power, dangerous to human flourishing but also helping us to evolve. Does N’s picture of motivation and greatness make sense?

Subscribe to get Part 2 of this episode, or listen to a preview. Citizens can get the entire second part here and hear this part ad-free.

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Ep. 262: Nietzsche on Self-Denial (Part Two for Supporters)

January 31, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

Continuing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Genealogy of Morals (1887), “Third essay: what do ascetic ideals mean?”

We try to fit asceticism into Nietzsche’s overall ethical picture, examine his critique of the scientific attitude, explore the (partially positive) function of the priest, try briefly to apply N’s social critique to modern politics, and wrap up by discussing his perspectivism.

Ep. 262: Nietzsche on Self-Denial (Part One for Supporters)

January 31, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Genealogy of Morals (1887), “Third essay: what do ascetic ideals mean?”

Self-regulation, where we tamp down certain aspects of our personality, is necessary for disciplined action, but it can clearly go too far. Nietzsche uses this concept of asceticism to analyze both geniuses and the masses. It is a chief tool of the will to power, highly dangerous to human flourishing but also unleashing many new capabilities beyond our animal nature. Does this picture of motivation and greatness make sense?

Parables as a Guide to Jesus the Philosopher, Part 11: Poverty

September 15, 2016 by Peter Hardy 6 Comments

A look at how poverty was valued, in connection to virtue and to justice, within Jesus’s philosophy.

Entering the Stoic World, Part 1: Cynicism 2.0

November 6, 2015 by Peter Hardy 5 Comments

Some early Stoics argued for disrespecting private property, fornicating in temples, and eating one’s parents when they died.

Parables as a Guide to Jesus the Philosopher, Part 8: More Possessiveness

November 5, 2015 by Peter Hardy 5 Comments

With the parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus commends the practice of memento mori as a release from anxiety about one’s life.

Episode 11: Nietzsche’s Immoralism: What Is Ethics, Anyway?

November 10, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Discussing The Genealogy of Morals (mostly the first two essays) and Beyond Good and Evil Ch. 1 (The Prejudices of Philosophers), 5 (Natural History of Morals), and 9 (What is Noble?).

End song: “The Greatest F’in Song in the World,” from 1998’s Mark Lint and the Fake Johnson Trio.

We go through Nietzsche’s convoluted and historically improbable stories about about the transition from master to slave morality and the origin of bad conscience. Why does he diss Christianity? Is he an anti-semite? Was he a lazy, arrogant bastard? What does he actually recommend that we do?

Episode 11: Nietzsche’s Immoralism: What Is Ethics, Anyway?

November 10, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 90 Comments