#28 - "We believe in nothing!" The Stakes of Meaninglessness in Nietzsche's "The Joyful Wisdom"

06/13/19 • 81 min

Scott Hambrick and Karl Schudt discuss Friedrich Nietzsche's book The Joyful Wisdom, Book 3, which contains his infamous proclamation "God is dead." Nietzsche is perhaps best known for his writings about nihilism, the rejection of God and moral principles, or of any notion of meaning in life. From the nihilist's perspective, nothing in the world is real; it's merely a representation of the real, a concept that hearkens back to Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Despite his systematic dismantling of God, religion, and the traditional moral codes of the West, Nietzsche was not an advocate for nihilism but rather viewed it as modern man's essential challenge: to overcome the sense of despair and meaninglessness.

Use the discount OGBPODCAST to save 25% on enrollment at Online Great Books!

Use the discount OGBPODCAST to save 25% on enrollment at Online Great Books!

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#27 - Is There Virtue Among Cannibals? Scott and Miles Discuss Montaigne's "Of Cannibals"

Scott Hambrick and Online Great Books member Miles Marco Bennett -- in fact the very first member to join OGB -- discuss Michel de Montaigne's insightful, tongue-in-cheek, and occasionally droll essay Of Cannibals. Montaigne's essay, which appears in a larger collected work of his essays written in the 16th century, describes the author's experience with the native Tupi peoples of Brazil, a vibrant warrior culture that practiced ceremonial cannibalism of their enemies.

Montaigne draws comparisons between these strong, swarthy people and the barbarians of medieval Europe, praising their "natural" way of life and value system which prized strength and valor. He also notes how their loose governance -- led by people with the most strength and force of ams -- emerged naturally from their values and habits, as opposed to the contrived government and value systems proposed in Plato's Republic.

In this way Montaigne rebuts traditional Western philosophy and impugns its figureheads, showing disdain for philosophers who "know better" and would see their way of life imposed on society by an organized government. Montaigne is, in a sense, the people's philosopher, and shows a deference to the common man which is both charming, genuine, and more intellectually honest than most colonial accounts of the "noble savages."

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#29 - Moments I: Medea's Terrifying Rationality

This week we're trying something new at Online Great Books: a new series of short episodes reflecting on one aspect of the Great Books. We're calling them Moments. We'll hear personal reflections from the seminar staff and from members.

One core tenet of Online Great Books is that seminar staff do NOT teach during seminars. They serve to moderate and guide discussion about the books, posing questions and digging into the participants arguments to help them better understand what they believe, and why they believe it. So the Moments are a way to hear some of the seminar leaders' own thoughts about the books we read. We'll hear from some of our members too.

This week Karl Schudt reflects on Medea and the uncomfortable -- even terrifying -- rationality of her decisions.

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