#974 - Joe Folley - Existential Philosophy, Nietzsche, Suffering & Self-Awareness

The entire philosophical and religious canon consists of collective delusions, according to 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In Beyond Good and Evil, he constructs this argument with logical premises, insults toward his peers, and challenges to the assumptions underlying Western thought. He then offers an alternative worldview arguing that people are primarily motivated by a desire for power and domination.

Our guide covers Nietzsche’s critique of philosophy and his theory of the will to power—the desire for control and domination inherent to all living things. We also discuss his belief in subjective morality and his critique of Christian values. In our commentary, we explain the philosophy Nietzsche critiques, how Beyond Good and Evil fits into his other works, and how he influenced philosophers who came after him.

In the 1880s, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra as a creative presentation of his views about life and philosophy. The book is a fictitious, poetic story about a prophet named Zarathustra. Much of the book consists of monologues that Zarathustra delivers to his disciples, his pets (an eagle and a snake), or people he meets in the woods near the cave that he calls home.

In this guide, we’ll examine Zarathustra’s teaching on what humans are, what they can become, and how you should live if you want to participate in the advancement of humankind. We’ll also consider Zarathustra’s criticism of Christianity, which is interspersed throughout his teachings and comprises a large portion of the book. Yet, as we’ll see, Zarathustra shares more ideas than you might expect with certain Christian theologians. We’ll also bring in additional perspectives from great thinkers like Stephen Hawking and Tom Rath.

Throughout most of the 20th century, the mainstream intellectual view of human nature was that humans are benevolent blank slates, with immaterial souls distinct from their physical bodies. But, according to cognitive psychologist and public intellectual Steven Pinker, this view is mistaken. In The Blank Slate, Pinker argues that contemporary science shows instead that humans have an innate tendency toward conflict, personalities shaped by their genes, and entirely physical minds.

In this guide, we’ll outline the three components of the mainstream view of human nature—empiricism, romanticism, and dualism—that Pinker critiques. We’ll then discuss his scientific arguments against these components, and we’ll look at three parts of his alternative scientific conception of human nature. Finally, we’ll discuss what his scientific view means for gender differences, politics, and how we understand children.

In his 1942 essay The Myth of Sisyphus, French Algerian philosopher and journalist Albert Camus describes his philosophy of the absurd. The absurd is both a feeling and a condition of existence—it describes the irreparable tension between the human desire for meaning and purpose in life, and the inevitability of oblivion and death. Camus draws on existentialist theory to argue that humans are doomed to an absurd condition, and rather than denying this via religious belief or surrendering to it via suicide, you should continue to live and try to derive as much fulfillment as you can from your brief existence.

This guide will break down Camus’s theory of the absurd, which is built on the work of existentialist philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Franz Kafka. We’ll also consider the historical context of Camus’s ideas, how absurdism has influenced other writers, and Camus’s 1942 novella The Stranger, which he intended to be read alongside The Myth of Sisyphus.

Suffering is often seen as something to avoid—but what if it’s actually a powerful tool for growth? If we embrace suffering, our pain may shape us in profound, life-affirming ways. In this article, we explore insights from four Great Thinkers on how to turn hardship into strength, wisdom, and purpose.

Have you felt like trying to understand and analyze your problems isn’t enough to actually solve them? In The Tools, psychiatrist Phil Stutz and psychotherapist Barry Michels go beyond the common analytical approach to therapy by providing practical strategies for handling life’s challenges and unlocking your potential. They argue that focusing on practical strategies that change your behavior can push you past your mental blocks and limiting beliefs.

In this guide, we’ll examine the authors’ five strategies: embrace pain, accept yourself, love radically, let gratitude guide you, and stay disciplined. We’ll also compare Stutz and Michels’s ideas to those in other books, such as The Obstacle is the Way, and offer additional advice to help you change your behavior for the better.

In his 1942 essay The Myth of Sisyphus, French Algerian philosopher and journalist Albert Camus describes his philosophy of the absurd. The absurd is both a feeling and a condition of existence—it describes the irreparable tension between the human desire for meaning and purpose in life, and the inevitability of oblivion and death. Camus draws on existentialist theory to argue that humans are doomed to an absurd condition, and rather than denying this via religious belief or surrendering to it via suicide, you should continue to live and try to derive as much fulfillment as you can from your brief existence.

This guide will break down Camus’s theory of the absurd, which is built on the work of existentialist philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Franz Kafka. We’ll also consider the historical context of Camus’s ideas, how absurdism has influenced other writers, and Camus’s 1942 novella The Stranger, which he intended to be read alongside The Myth of Sisyphus.

What is the meaning of life? This question has both plagued and motivated humans for centuries, and it’s probably crossed your mind once or twice. But how do we answer this question, and how can we ensure our lives have meaning? Man’s Search for Meaning recounts Viktor Frankl’s experiences in the concentration camps of WWII and the school of therapy he invented to help us confront this very question.

The entire philosophical and religious canon consists of collective delusions, according to 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In Beyond Good and Evil, he constructs this argument with logical premises, insults toward his peers, and challenges to the assumptions underlying Western thought. He then offers an alternative worldview arguing that people are primarily motivated by a desire for power and domination.

Our guide covers Nietzsche’s critique of philosophy and his theory of the will to power—the desire for control and domination inherent to all living things. We also discuss his belief in subjective morality and his critique of Christian values. In our commentary, we explain the philosophy Nietzsche critiques, how Beyond Good and Evil fits into his other works, and how he influenced philosophers who came after him.

In his 1942 essay The Myth of Sisyphus, French Algerian philosopher and journalist Albert Camus describes his philosophy of the absurd. The absurd is both a feeling and a condition of existence—it describes the irreparable tension between the human desire for meaning and purpose in life, and the inevitability of oblivion and death. Camus draws on existentialist theory to argue that humans are doomed to an absurd condition, and rather than denying this via religious belief or surrendering to it via suicide, you should continue to live and try to derive as much fulfillment as you can from your brief existence.

This guide will break down Camus’s theory of the absurd, which is built on the work of existentialist philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Franz Kafka. We’ll also consider the historical context of Camus’s ideas, how absurdism has influenced other writers, and Camus’s 1942 novella The Stranger, which he intended to be read alongside The Myth of Sisyphus.

What is the meaning of life? This question has both plagued and motivated humans for centuries, and it’s probably crossed your mind once or twice. But how do we answer this question, and how can we ensure our lives have meaning? Man’s Search for Meaning recounts Viktor Frankl’s experiences in the concentration camps of WWII and the school of therapy he invented to help us confront this very question.

The 21st century will bring changes and challenges unlike any humans have encountered before. Globalism and technological innovations are changing the structures of societies worldwide—and the changes are happening quickly. If people don’t face these challenges and help shape the future, the world could have a class of obsolete workers whose jobs have been automated and people could lose their ability to make their own decisions. In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari highlights the biggest challenges in the modern world, and he offers advice on making sense of and navigating such transitional times.

In this summary, you'll learn how algorithms like Netflix movie recommendations are teaching you to distrust your own judgment, why religion can’t solve 21st-century challenges, and how automation will threaten the jobs of humans in every industry.

In his 1942 essay The Myth of Sisyphus, French Algerian philosopher and journalist Albert Camus describes his philosophy of the absurd. The absurd is both a feeling and a condition of existence—it describes the irreparable tension between the human desire for meaning and purpose in life, and the inevitability of oblivion and death. Camus draws on existentialist theory to argue that humans are doomed to an absurd condition, and rather than denying this via religious belief or surrendering to it via suicide, you should continue to live and try to derive as much fulfillment as you can from your brief existence.

This guide will break down Camus’s theory of the absurd, which is built on the work of existentialist philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Franz Kafka. We’ll also consider the historical context of Camus’s ideas, how absurdism has influenced other writers, and Camus’s 1942 novella The Stranger, which he intended to be read alongside The Myth of Sisyphus.

Do you want to understand books better, and remember more of what you read? Do you want to better understand the author’s goal and be a better critic of what you read?

How to Read a Book is the classic guide to reading effectively. It teaches how to understand the crux of a book within 15 minutes, how to analyze a book intelligently, and how to synthesize multiple books together. If you read a lot of books, then it makes sense to learn how to read better and increase the value of your reading.

What is the meaning of life? This question has both plagued and motivated humans for centuries, and it’s probably crossed your mind once or twice. But how do we answer this question, and how can we ensure our lives have meaning? Man’s Search for Meaning recounts Viktor Frankl’s experiences in the concentration camps of WWII and the school of therapy he invented to help us confront this very question.