Will Durant--- The Philosophy of Nietzsche

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  • čas pƙidĂĄn 8. 11. 2014
  • Will Durant--- The Philosophy of Nietzsche
    Join us on a captivating intellectual journey as renowned historian and philosopher, Will Durant, delves deep into the complex and thought-provoking world of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy. In this insightful video, Durant dissects Nietzsche's most profound ideas, offering a comprehensive overview of the German philosopher's life, works, and enduring influence.
    🔍 What You'll Discover:
    An Introduction to Friedrich Nietzsche: Explore the life and background of this enigmatic philosopher, understanding the key events that shaped his worldview.
    Nietzsche's Philosophical Evolution: Uncover how Nietzsche's thoughts evolved over time, from his early works to his later, more controversial writings.
    The Will to Power: Durant discusses Nietzsche's concept of the "will to power" and its significance in understanding human motivation and drive.
    The Ubermensch (Overman): Gain insight into Nietzsche's concept of the "Ubermensch" and its implications for individuality and societal norms.
    Beyond Good and Evil: Explore Nietzsche's critique of traditional morality and the idea of the "beyond good and evil" perspective.
    Influence on Modern Thought: Durant examines Nietzsche's lasting impact on philosophy, literature, and psychology, including his influence on existentialism and postmodernism.
    "Seldom has has a man paid so greater price for genius"

Komentáƙe • 820

  • @barblessable
    @barblessable Pƙed 2 lety +368

    So glad I found this channel ,I'm in my 70s and left school aged 15 so I'm learning so much ,we were factory fodder and not destined for higher education, but it's never too late to educate yourself internet makes it possible.Thanks Rocky.

    • @winniethuo9736
      @winniethuo9736 Pƙed rokem +12

      I recommend Jiddu Krishnamurti for free thinking skills and the challenge of change from the known to immediate human mind mutation hence vigour to live and no fear for the end. Start with his book The Freedom from the known.

    • @whoknows8101
      @whoknows8101 Pƙed rokem +2

      You still alive?

    • @barblessable
      @barblessable Pƙed rokem +22

      @@whoknows8101 yes .

    • @jow6845
      @jow6845 Pƙed rokem +13

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      free curator talks to healthy recipes, life in other countries, anything. Once you start to type into the search bar for what interests you, the algorithims take over and suggestions start popping up based on your inclinations and it’s a pick and choose. Enjoy enjoy enjoy😊

    • @winniethuo9736
      @winniethuo9736 Pƙed rokem +4

      @@jow6845 Tell it!

  • @michaelrussell7806
    @michaelrussell7806 Pƙed 4 lety +86

    "The man who does not wish to be merely one of the mass only needs to cease to be easy upon himself."

    • @cosmicmusicreynolds3266
      @cosmicmusicreynolds3266 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      And lose all happiness and meaning ! The masses are worthy , Nietzsche failed to criticised the formation of society in economic and social terms. He is contradictory in his work

    • @brigadierharsh1948
      @brigadierharsh1948 Pƙed 2 lety +9

      @@cosmicmusicreynolds3266 “economic and social terms” are the playthings of the lowest segments of society

    • @Infamous41
      @Infamous41 Pƙed 2 lety

      Said it wrong

    • @thereisneverquiettherightn1789
      @thereisneverquiettherightn1789 Pƙed měsĂ­cem +1

      @@brigadierharsh1948as is youtube commentary

  • @trombone7
    @trombone7 Pƙed 8 lety +218

    Excellent. Thanks for posting this. This, by the way, is taken from "The Story of Philosophy" - Will Durant. It appears to be the entire Nietzsche chapter pgs 522 - 583.
    What Durant appears to be doing, is taking some declarative, sweeping statements of Nietzsche's, and then fleshing them out with points that either Nietzsche had previously made, or the ancient sources themselves that had influenced him.
    No one encapsulates any philosopher to everyone's liking, but what Durant has done here is create an excellent foothold for beginning to explore Nietzsche. Or he illuminates a few things for those already familiar.
    I point out the book because after listening to this for a few minutes it is clear, at least to me, that the scope of some of the sentences quickly spoken actually deserve, instead, to be mulled over and absorbed slowly. In short, this audio is an excellent find !!

    • @nox3335
      @nox3335 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      Thanks downloading from audible now 👍

    • @jacobibanez7554
      @jacobibanez7554 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      @@nox3335 - me-too!

    • @easywind4044
      @easywind4044 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      I seems to me that Nietzsche’s entire philosophy is a compensation for his own weakness. Then he was read by Nazis.

    • @willmercury
      @willmercury Pƙed 2 lety +2

      @@easywind4044 Read more deeply.

    • @Senior62
      @Senior62 Pƙed rokem

      North Americans should embrace these thought. We are in perilous terrain.

  • @m_b_lmackenzie4510
    @m_b_lmackenzie4510 Pƙed 5 lety +158

    I love this narration...it has more knowledge than most universities today

    • @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676
      @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676 Pƙed 4 lety +29

      They are actualy very superficial.
      Trying as they are to exsplain an extremly complex set of philosophies in a short period of time,
      Causing them in qonsequence to simplify.
      If you want to understand Nietzsche, then read Nietzsche.

    • @ergot1803
      @ergot1803 Pƙed 4 lety +6

      "it has more knowledge that most universities today" And you know this due to having skimmed through the entire databases of most universities and afterwards compared them to this video?

    • @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676
      @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676 Pƙed 4 lety

      @Inge Fossen
      In which case all of Tacitus and Herodotus is worthless then?
      As is Plato.

    • @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676
      @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676 Pƙed 4 lety +1

      @Inge Fossen
      You have misunderstood my argument. Thats not the chororoly.
      I said read Nietzsche. I am not a language purist.
      Any good translation of Nietzsche would do a better job if exsplaining Nietzsche then any other person could.

    • @ADAMKANE510
      @ADAMKANE510 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      @@ergot1803 guess we know who the head janitor at a minor university is.....

  • @ClovisdeCruz
    @ClovisdeCruz Pƙed 7 lety +210

    "It is not a lack of love that leads to an unhappy marriage, rather a lack of friendship."

    • @EddieLeal
      @EddieLeal Pƙed 5 lety +4

      I believe its indifference.

    • @ike25young
      @ike25young Pƙed 5 lety +8

      Don't be indifferent to your friends, pal.

    • @unfortunatebeam
      @unfortunatebeam Pƙed 4 lety +4

      who cares, that's probably the least interesting thing he talks about

    • @sophiafake-virus2456
      @sophiafake-virus2456 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      @@DurantandFriends No. You don't know what love is, you are a perfect Nietzschean.
      Your view of men and women is a personal concept that I do not recognise at all, and I venture that no one else is in harmony with your warped views.

    • @mixerD1-
      @mixerD1- Pƙed 3 lety +2

      @@sophiafake-virus2456
      Youd be shocked at the true percentage of men and women who completely agree with him.
      Can you not see western governments fomenting the alienation of men and women?
      And understand why?
      You don't agree with him and a good percentage of men and women dont... to your and their credit...but age, childhood, education and level of consciousness and enlightenment have a lot to do with this, some people will get there and some wont. Im there, but five years ago if you told me I would, I'd have laughed at the idea.
      Nietzsche always claimed his teaching wasn't for "the majority".

  • @isaiahhuerta1254
    @isaiahhuerta1254 Pƙed 4 lety +24

    “Ah.. I too have written some good books.” ... and the lucid moment passed..
    Beautiful

  • @sirvanghazi9429
    @sirvanghazi9429 Pƙed 7 lety +73

    Will Durant does such a great job ridding the illusion that hovers around these thinkers. Making them human once again.

    • @andreewert1142
      @andreewert1142 Pƙed 5 lety +6

      William James "Will" Durant was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. He became best known for his work The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, Ariel Durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy, described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".More at Wikipedia
      Born:
      William James Durant, Nov 5, 1885, North Adams, Massachusetts, United States
      Died:
      Nov 7, 1981, Los Angeles, California, United States
      Occupation:
      Historian, writer, philosopher, teacher

    • @lawrence9506
      @lawrence9506 Pƙed 5 lety +4

      He makes some of Nietzsche ridiculous.

    • @ludwigwittgenduck3282
      @ludwigwittgenduck3282 Pƙed 4 lety +5

      A common trope in jealous academics who never had a star to let wane.

  • @eziosalimbeni6325
    @eziosalimbeni6325 Pƙed 3 lety +38

    Damn, so much of what he said is still true today, radical in its own sense, but demonstrates a deep understanding nonetheless.

  • @TALKmd
    @TALKmd Pƙed 6 lety +5

    Great,heard it all...,a man with free thinking,admiration,as many suffering in short time,as many insights.

  • @user-qs7gx7rp7m
    @user-qs7gx7rp7m Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci +5

    My aunt gave me 'Voltaire & the Age of Reason' for my 20th birthday. It & his works have been profound at different points in my life. Also learned some tricks in a tavern. Colld hold a lit cigarette between my thumb & forefinger if I froze thĂšm first with an icecube under the table. Won many bets but always revealed the truth as a matter of honour . . .

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci +2

      I love this comment, it was worthy of me coming back to say so!

    • @user-qs7gx7rp7m
      @user-qs7gx7rp7m Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci

      @@DurantandFriends Thank you sir.

  • @psimuv
    @psimuv Pƙed rokem +7

    "Will to Power" is not the same as "Will for Power". Nietzsche uses the term "Will to power", which is the most misunderstood of his premises. The term "Superman" is wrong. It must be "Overman" "Beyond-man".

  • @ggrthemostgodless8713
    @ggrthemostgodless8713 Pƙed 5 lety +14

    This is one of his best and more complete lectures.... in others he is just describing issues, here he does more than that... I've listened to this lecture many times, and like all great books in history, I get more and more from it each time.
    It is like he adopted or became a semi- Nietzsche here, so profound and concise in his presentation.

  • @myquestformeaning8251
    @myquestformeaning8251 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    This single video is basically what prompted me to read Thus Spake Zarathustra. So many good quotes in here.

  • @friedrichnietzsche3774
    @friedrichnietzsche3774 Pƙed 9 lety +16

    I must just add that Nietzsche's work, in my eyes, is also an attempt to reach out for others, to communicate to them his worth and validity. I am sure he was deeply hurt by his inability to communicate with his fellow men due to his extreme sensitivity and giftedness. He was reaching out for them and didn't enjoy, at least at times, his solitude but his giftedness condemned him to a life of solitude!

    • @thomaspaine9868
      @thomaspaine9868 Pƙed 6 lety +2

      Oh, I always contended that Nietzsche easily had 40+ I.Q. points on everyone around him and was starving for someone to be on his level. He seems to have died never having found that person.

    • @smhollanshead
      @smhollanshead Pƙed 5 lety +6

      Perhaps it is the ultra sensitive among us who can see what the rest of us can’t see. It is not IQ that gives us this insight. It is our ability to see through the fog of chaos. We admire the ability for a person to see and speak the truth when we lack the vision, insight, or courage to do so ourselves.

    • @saimbhat6243
      @saimbhat6243 Pƙed rokem

      LOL, I must add, in my eyes, you could not possibly say such inner feelings of historic figures unless they communicate to you through visions.

  • @MadnSad
    @MadnSad Pƙed 5 lety +25

    Durant’s books including ‘The Story of Philosophy ’ and the History of the World were two of the books that I enjoyed during my college years. He is a story teller who weaves a tapestry of biography and thoughts of many a philosophers. And, there is no hatred in his writings. His love for his subjects shines through his pages. Neitzche occupies an important part of the book. So does Spinoza and all the others who followed them in the 20th century. In the world of ideas, there are disagreements, differences in perspective. But hatred, that is for just those who have lost their capacity to reflect and enjoy the kaleidoscopic colours that illuminates the world of philosophy.

    • @irfanullah5977
      @irfanullah5977 Pƙed rokem

      the story of philosophy & History of the world, these book are very important for me because of I am student of philosophy..
      sir please recommend me some book of philosophy!đŸ‘šâ€đŸ«âœ‹

    • @thedude5740
      @thedude5740 Pƙed rokem

      ​@@irfanullah5977 Philo Sophia!
      Look up the Irish philosopher.
      I have many teachers of philosophy in my pocket, but John Scotus Eriugena was a great one that doesn't seem to be very well known.

    • @Republican-00769
      @Republican-00769 Pƙed 4 měsĂ­ci

      I like Mel Brooks' movie better than the book.

  • @nyceyes
    @nyceyes Pƙed 6 lety +7

    Thank you for these videos. I appreciate them. 😊

  • @ggrthemostgodless8713
    @ggrthemostgodless8713 Pƙed 6 lety +10

    The problematic issues here are that MOST everything can be INTERPRETED from so many different angles... so we choose (depending on our temperament) which one is truer than the other... which one we like??
    And that is my "fear" ---that I (and we) may be choosing the points of views we LIKE and not what is true?
    And furthermore, why should we choose the one that is true over the more useful?? Most truths are true enough for survival, so why choose a truth that diminishes our chances of it??

  • @rangeroverrick3197
    @rangeroverrick3197 Pƙed 8 lety +2

    Thank You for posting !

  • @trevostuden8456
    @trevostuden8456 Pƙed 4 lety +21

    Love the narration, the information. No frills, no gimmicks, to the point and educational. New subscriber, and looking forward to learning about more amazing people of history.

  • @eric.aaron.castro
    @eric.aaron.castro Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci +4

    Not masses but the creation of genius is the goal of evolution

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci

      Be careful with the observation is the only words of wisdom (prudence) that I can offer when reasoning in that form of perfection.

    • @eric.aaron.castro
      @eric.aaron.castro Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci

      @@DurantandFriends there is no perfection but evolution.

  • @roshankaul1008
    @roshankaul1008 Pƙed 3 lety +51

    Will Durant describes the genius (Nietzsche) poetically, music to the ears of the students of philosophy!

  • @biraucatalin4126
    @biraucatalin4126 Pƙed 5 lety +3

    Thank you for the upload. You are doing the world such a great favor!

  • @nledaig
    @nledaig Pƙed rokem

    An excellent digest of Mr N - and a good spice of ironic humour with it.

  • @MartinFaulks
    @MartinFaulks Pƙed 8 lety +23

    People who smoked or drank were incapable of clear perception of subtle thought! A good quote.

    • @safwanshow
      @safwanshow Pƙed 6 lety +3

      most great men do so .. some were addicted to a kind of stuff

    • @teejay9374
      @teejay9374 Pƙed 5 lety +5

      Steinbeck and Hemingway both drank and smoked. Say what about a "good" quote?

    • @MephistoOrb
      @MephistoOrb Pƙed 4 lety

      @@teejay9374I'd add Orwell in there too

    • @StoicSurvivor99
      @StoicSurvivor99 Pƙed 4 lety

      @jon hamm then perhaps there work made them quit smoking.

    • @davyroger3773
      @davyroger3773 Pƙed 3 lety

      Tell that to Churchill

  • @explodingheadtrick2350
    @explodingheadtrick2350 Pƙed 3 lety +3

    I like this fella. I think he’ll make it to the big times

  • @karmadondup6898
    @karmadondup6898 Pƙed 9 lety +77

    I've discovered Will Durant!

    • @charlesputnam9370
      @charlesputnam9370 Pƙed 3 lety +12

      Will Durant changed my whole life when I got his book at age 16 fifty years ago. I probably would never have made it to 66 years without philosophy. I was orphaned at 13 years old and took me to 35 before I began to understand enough philosophy to get my life together and learn to survive. My older brother did not make it and died a long time ago from mental illness and drug alcohol abuse.

    • @janethayes5941
      @janethayes5941 Pƙed 3 lety

      Me too and I don't know how I missed him for all these years!

    • @janethayes5941
      @janethayes5941 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      @@charlesputnam9370 oh that's so sad! I'm glad you made it.💞

    • @charlesputnam9370
      @charlesputnam9370 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      @@janethayes5941 I spent a lot of time reading philosophy in my youth. Spinoza had the biggest affect .

    • @janethayes5941
      @janethayes5941 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      @@charlesputnam9370 well that testimony alone makes me think I'll check him out. Thanks!

  • @mouradmhm3244
    @mouradmhm3244 Pƙed 2 měsĂ­ci

    This portrayal of Nietzsche is the most comprehensive I've encountered, aligning closely with my own perspective on the philosopher. While acknowledging his brilliance, it's apparent that he grappled with instability, evident in his chaotic and contradictory writing style. "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" presents profound wisdom alongside elements of chaos and contradiction. Nietzsche's analysis of human nature and the underlying motivations behind societal norms is undoubtedly masterful, yet it's noteworthy that many of these themes are also explored in Dostoevsky's novels, an influence Nietzsche himself acknowledged.
    The excessive self-praise in "Ecce Homo" can indeed be off-putting, particularly when considering that many of Nietzsche's ideas have roots in earlier philosophies and literary works. For instance, concepts such as the Übermensch and the beyond good and evil mentality bear resemblance to the philosophy of Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment," who idolizes Napoleon and grapples with similar themes. Additionally, ideas like amor fati have parallels in Stoic philosophy, and the concept of eternal recurrence can be traced back to ancient Greek thought.
    In conclusion, Nietzsche was undoubtedly brilliant, but it's fair to question whether he is sometimes overrated, given the extent to which his ideas draw from earlier sources.

  • @thaman7723
    @thaman7723 Pƙed 6 lety +12

    this is very enjoyable, I do not see any problem with the way Will Durant explains things, he just explains them as close to what NIETZSCHE thought

    • @Infamous41
      @Infamous41 Pƙed 2 lety

      Well said

    • @edgali
      @edgali Pƙed 9 měsĂ­ci +1

      Yes, I see people mad at his “criticism” of Nietzche in the comments, but as far as I can tell Durant is very unbiased in how he presents the life and work.

  • @greatnessg348
    @greatnessg348 Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci +1

    "Love itself is only a desire for possession...Courtship is combat and mating is mastery."

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci +1

      This is coming from the man who couldn't make a meaningful, lifelong bond with a woman, I would say that his perspectives are missing the wisdom of experience and are contaminated with resentment.

  • @danielkelley7548
    @danielkelley7548 Pƙed měsĂ­cem

    “How he longed to be a sinner, this incorrigible saint.” đŸ–€

  • @miwanwang4381
    @miwanwang4381 Pƙed 5 lety

    very good! thank you

  • @muhammedtawseef6332
    @muhammedtawseef6332 Pƙed 7 lety

    Thank you.

  • @GroundedThought
    @GroundedThought Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci

    Great overview and detail. Well done!

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci

      Thank you for your feedback, we really appreciate your comments and participation in the channel.

  • @friedrichnietzsche3774
    @friedrichnietzsche3774 Pƙed 9 lety +122

    Living alone far from others for an extended period of time made Nietzsche's views sound extreme for those used to live in 'society'. But who said that their view of life was the right one, wasn't it for democracy that gives them the right to voice their opinions? Here comes the heart of the problem as I see it! Nietzsche was clearly a genius, of course, incomparable to Durant who can, at best, try to understand Nietzsche. Regarding Master morality, anyone who ever tried to help someone, torn by inner turmoil and infected by sloth and mediocrity, realizes soon enough that the help and support one gives them never bears fruit and they will used by the mediocre just to get these brief moments of warmth before reverting back to their lazy life. Master morality says you have to leave them to perish and I think Nietzsche is right here because anyway, the effort won't bear any fruit but just keeps them and mediocrity with them alive and comfortable. Slave morality comes into the picture to oblige the strong to give a helping hand to these mediocre out of solidarity and compassion! This is the lie that the 'slaves' use to gain control of the strong. Again, as with most other ideas, Nietzsche can be understood only by people who have similar experiences and he never ceases to mention that. Those who live in the comfort of their jobs and homes; who never deeply struggled with life; who are not extremely passionate and gifted will not see themselves in Nietzsche and will criticize him as being strange, egotistic, insane and so on! He actually warned against this in 'the problem of Socrates' where the herd will have the upper hand with dialectics. Nietzsche has his readers and those who identify with his philosophy (those who have new ears for new music); the others shall not waste time criticizing this in-their-eyes-lunatic man. The fact that Nietzsche stands today and is spoken about so widely within and outside the western culture and is considered a major event in philosophical thought, proves beyond doubt that the man changed our view of the world and imagined new ways for humanity. Durant judges Nietzsche with the morality reigning in our times because Durant is fully a product of his time; while Nietzsche had the privilege and the misfortune of living alone i.e. speak in the spirit of his time but also himself.

  • @brandonromano2564
    @brandonromano2564 Pƙed 5 lety +3

    Does anyone know what this series is? All the videos that Rocky C uploads of Will Durant - who is reading his work? Is it an audiobook series? Which one? Thanks!! Love these videos!

  • @smkh2890
    @smkh2890 Pƙed 9 měsĂ­ci +1

    Durant's History of Philosophy is still very readable!

  • @fraidoonw
    @fraidoonw Pƙed 3 lety +5

    Thanks Will, may all souls rest in peace!

  • @ltheanine183
    @ltheanine183 Pƙed rokem +1

    What an amazing picture

  • @OceanRoadbyTonyBaker
    @OceanRoadbyTonyBaker Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci

    Will Durant was exceptional.

  • @jjohnston7837
    @jjohnston7837 Pƙed 3 lety +1

    The narration is so subjectively critical that it never attempts to describe Nietzsche's philosophy in a coherent way. I'd prefer to hear Nietzsche before hearing from someone who has an obvious negative opinion of the man.

  • @edwinmunguia4781
    @edwinmunguia4781 Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci +1

    Very interesting

  • @McMillanScottish
    @McMillanScottish Pƙed rokem

    You open with this shot of Nietzsche posing with “the hidden hand“ of various secret societies. Tells me a lot right there.

  • @jimstanley8690
    @jimstanley8690 Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci +1

    Our Oriental Heritage is excellent. One of his Story of Civilization series .

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci +1

      Thank you for your comments. I am happy that you are enjoying it.

  • @cameronbridges9316
    @cameronbridges9316 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    Correction Mr. Durant... Zarathustra goes down to men when he is 40, not 30

  • @Kit5une131313
    @Kit5une131313 Pƙed 6 lety +104

    Five minutes into it, and already I am disgusted. The author (Will Durant, presumably) seems not only to have a lot of beef with Nietzsche (something apparently noted by the reader - presumably one Rocky C - since his voice is downright dripping with hate) but also with Bismarck and with Germany in general. Just for your information, Bismarck did not say that "blood and iron" SHOULD decide all matters.
    He simply pointed out in one speech that the Prussian defense budget was too low at the time, saying essentially to the parliamentarians: "Do you really think that an enemy, after having defeated our forces, will care about the majority decisions of this house? Do not be naive! Blood and iron decide in the end!" The latter phrase is taken from a patriotic poem, "The Iron Cross" by Max von Schenkendorf, calling people to fight against the tyranny Napoleon Bonaparte (saying in one of the last stanzas, butchering it and losing the rhyme: "only iron can save us, only blood can redeem us, from the heavy chains of sin, from the wantonness of evil." - a typical patriotic poem as many were made in times of war, however in this case one known to every Prussian in the mid 19th century). In other words, Bismarck is reminding the audience essentially: "Remember what liberated us from Napoleon! It wasn't parlamentarian decisions but arms and fighting!"
    The whole allusion that Bismarck said good-by to all principles is mistaken, or, quite often, a deliberate untruth, spread by anti-german propagandist (politicians, journalists and historians among others, usually with the practical purpose of justifying the two world wars the Anglo-Saxon nations have fought egainst Germany, in both cases siding with abject dicatorships and employing the most cruel means of warfare, treating the defeated Germany in the most brutal way in the aftermarth of each, all of which needs justification). But to depict it as if 19th century Germany was an utterly immoral nation in a Europe "rotten by democracy and ideals", as the author prefers to frame it in a cynical, pseudo-"German" view, utterly distorts the nature of things.
    The "altruist" principles of the actually very imperalist powers France and Britain are not very far reaching (please feel free to check this for yourself, it is not so hard to find three examples for it). The nation of France has traditionally (and consistently through the ages) a very ruthless nature, whereas Britain, with its distinctly cynical character, feels a strong urge to hide ist own (very considerable) ambitions under a thick layer of hypocrisy. The Germans in turn, had always a very good-natured (albeit naive, which may be only the flip-side of the coin) outlook. To be virtous, as well as to be perceived as virtous by others, has always beeen the great tick of them (understand this and you understand a good deal about Germany).
    It is in this environment that a simple PRAGMATIST (and not immoralist) like Bismarck stands out ("We need a strong military, if the push comes to a shove being right and lawful won't help us!"). Had Bismarck been a French prime minister, nobody would have noticed anything out of the ordinary about the man's attitude. Or in other words, the whole introduction about the ruthless, immoral (just use the word: "evil", don't be shy) nature of Germany, rising to power to do God knows what, of which Nietzsche became the voice, is, pardon my French, utter poppycock. Actually, the newfounded German Reich (which was never much of an Empire as in Imperium) was a surprisingly peaceful and highly civilised nation, successful in science and industry because of its cultural (especially Prussian) outlook, its resourcefulness and protestant work ethic.
    It was in fact not much less democratic than England. (Surprised by this assertion? Yes, the parliament in London had more powers, however the German Reich had a WAY more modern and fair franchise - it actually warrants a discussion which of the two nations was the more democratic one). What is more, Nietzsche himself did not like the defeat of France in 1871 - he held France in highest esteem (England not so much btw), and he did not like the idea of a German Reich (the latter word meaning just "Realm") at all. He suspected that this would only cause the rise of democracy and egalitarism, which in turn would give way to socialism, to the complete detriment of refinement and culture. In other words, he saw democratism and nationalism as steps on the road of collectivism, while being very much an individualist himself.
    If it sounds surprising to have a German, even a born Prussian, as a great individualist (and it is difficult to outdo Nietzsche in this regard, idiosyncratic as his thinking was), well, he left Germany soon enough, to live in Switzerland, later he preferred Italy. In his later works he endlessly rants against Germany, Germans and German culture (possibly having something in common with Mr Durant, albeit for different reasons), also complaining that he would be read and appreciated everywhere, from England to Spain, from Russia to America, but not in Europe's "large flatland", Germany.
    Or to finally sum it up: In my opinion, the author of the above suffers from the most serious and malignant of misconceptions about the nature of Germany, Bismarck and Nietzsche himself. My thanks to any reader who has made it down this far for his or her marvelous attentiveness. :)

    • @joshmagee1
      @joshmagee1 Pƙed 6 lety +2

      Kit5une131313 I couldn't agree more. Great points and thoroughly explained!

    • @MrLapogianni
      @MrLapogianni Pƙed 6 lety +3

      i suspect I agree but your reply is way too long (who do you think you are to write so many words? You should first explain why we should read them all)

    • @Kit5une131313
      @Kit5une131313 Pƙed 6 lety +18

      It was a kind of rant, just to get it of my chest. After finishing, I become aware that I had created a monstrosity and considered deleting it but decided against it (expecting nobody to read this anyway). I am surprised that apparently some people did struggle through this lead desert of mine and I sincerely apologize for the hardship I caused.

    • @MrLapogianni
      @MrLapogianni Pƙed 6 lety +2

      my point (on long comments) is "philosophical": the new social media call for short comments (no elaboration) o/w nobody reads them (so most comments are either praise or insults); if you do read many long comments, well, you have a lot of time to waste. This is a catch 22. How can we be selective? Who screens?

    • @CurlCobain
      @CurlCobain Pƙed 6 lety +1

      Kit5une131313 yeah 5minutes into your comment and... 😉

  • @superflytnt8831
    @superflytnt8831 Pƙed 8 lety +78

    many a philosopher has died when his child was born. lol. true words.

    • @paladintank7515
      @paladintank7515 Pƙed 4 lety +2

      The wind blew through the key hole saying COME and my door opened itself cunningly saying GO by i Lay fettered for my love into my Children

    • @artofthepossible7329
      @artofthepossible7329 Pƙed 3 lety

      ​@@dancingbanana627 On my end I've yet to find a great Western philosopher who has kids, a couple have been married but no known children.

    • @neofelisherod2947
      @neofelisherod2947 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      The philosopher would've been born of a family and developed of that basis, as each of us has been born. Though of us who engages philosophically may make decisions how to,conduct ones self. The philosopher is born as a child developing from the family unit.

  • @MrAwrsomeness
    @MrAwrsomeness Pƙed 5 lety +9

    Coming back to this after listening to durrant some more it's strange how hostile he is towards Nietchze considering he quotes and references him many times throughout his work. Maybe he considered Nietchze a good counterweight to his Christian even egalitarian leaning morality at times. Perhaps he started to appreciate Nietchze more when writing his long history overviews and realised just how darwinistic humanity is (and not a bad thing) and slave morality in religion became more apparent. Who knows.

  • @davebeecher6579
    @davebeecher6579 Pƙed 3 lety +2

    Thank you for the story and narrator is great and the sun is shining and the music is great and I'm liking the wine and thought accessories taste like dried mushrooms,life is good in Tennessee,stay safe everyone

  • @BobBogaert
    @BobBogaert Pƙed 2 lety +1

    9:16 "...from who's safe distance he could observe the bloody ironies of Bismarck."
    I'll admit I only caught it on the third listen.

  • @juandominguez8335
    @juandominguez8335 Pƙed 4 lety +2

    Thank you for to share the true culture. Extraordinary voice.

  • @pamgyang803
    @pamgyang803 Pƙed 4 lety +2

    I like Will Durant's analysis and critique.

  • @soni3085
    @soni3085 Pƙed 3 lety +6

    I am asking for a refund to my college philosophy department ...lol! Excellent job!

  • @amirmuhammadkhooban9204
    @amirmuhammadkhooban9204 Pƙed 5 měsĂ­ci

    Amazing ❀

  • @yp77738yp77739
    @yp77738yp77739 Pƙed rokem +6

    A wonderful review of the work of the most important thinker to date, I’d argue more so than Plato himself. The truth is so painful and unpleasant but still sweeter than the self deception.

  • @ggrthemostgodless8713
    @ggrthemostgodless8713 Pƙed 2 lety +3

    51:50
    Perfect!!
    52:03 --- 54:28. That's almost all we need to remember.
    ""...not mankind but the overman is the goal. The very last thing a sensible man would undertake would be to "improve" mankind; Mankind does NOT improve, it does NOT even exist, it's an abstraction..."
    And we've all wasted so much damn time attempting to improve Humanity, the remnants of christian thinking, only to see it slip right back to where it was, saying and pretending it does want to improve, but really just sucking your time and effort and other resources and WASTING them on nothing.

  • @lol-qe9td
    @lol-qe9td Pƙed 7 lety +2

    Excellent book. I loved the section regarding the absurdity of democracy, sensitivity and the Germans antipathetic view of the superman.

  • @rillriller4511
    @rillriller4511 Pƙed 2 lety +4

    "Wagner half Jewish "?//Durants in a world of his own with that one

  • @Kempshaw
    @Kempshaw Pƙed 3 lety +1

    Does anyone know which translation of Thus Spake Zarathustra Will Durant uses? Because whenever I search for this book, all I get is the version by "Thomas Common", and it's much less delightful.

    • @artofthepossible7329
      @artofthepossible7329 Pƙed 3 lety

      According to Wiki, if it isn't Common it would have to be Alexander Tille.

  • @VictorRochaGaming
    @VictorRochaGaming Pƙed 4 lety +2

    I used to own this book. Found it in a used book store. It was my gateway to philosophy. On a side note - his beautiful house is in the Hollywood Hills. I think of him & Ariel every time when I drive by.

  • @captainhotlicks2325
    @captainhotlicks2325 Pƙed 4 lety +2

    That voice sounds like Grover Gardner. A good reader.

  • @safdar1955
    @safdar1955 Pƙed 3 lety +1

    Excellent. Thanks for this; Nietzsche was the biggest western influence on Iqbal; one of the best thinkers of Asia.

    • @irfanullah5977
      @irfanullah5977 Pƙed rokem

      excuse me Sir I know him Iqbal he was our poet of Pakistan most of philosophy of Iqbal is related of Islamic and we can say that say I have studied him shayari mashriq....
      đŸ„€âœ‹ thank you for your view

  • @googoo6077
    @googoo6077 Pƙed 7 lety

    Reminds me of my friend Jeff and all our discussions...Jeff if you see this "Hi".

  • @Gorboduc
    @Gorboduc Pƙed 2 lety +2

    "Nietzsche said that the life we lived we're gonna live over again the exact same way for eternity. Great. That means I'll have to sit through the Ice Capades again."

  • @michaeljames8218
    @michaeljames8218 Pƙed 7 lety

    Rocky C. Can you put the entire Story of Civilization, chapter by chapter on here?

  • @garrettnaglenagle2447
    @garrettnaglenagle2447 Pƙed 8 lety +4

    life repeats itself, though now with technology and generations more confused than ever since the first beginning. Past is the past and put it behind.

  • @abhimanyukarnawat7441
    @abhimanyukarnawat7441 Pƙed 7 lety +28

    Nietzsche is amazing.

  • @JohnnyWalkerBlack142
    @JohnnyWalkerBlack142 Pƙed rokem +3

    You know the thumbnail is a Freemason pose?

  • @chowellsbigpond
    @chowellsbigpond Pƙed 8 lety

    crazeee!

  • @m_b_lmackenzie4510
    @m_b_lmackenzie4510 Pƙed 5 lety +2

    44:07 I need to learn that phrase!

  • @danglybit1
    @danglybit1 Pƙed 11 měsĂ­ci

    his nervous system seemed designed for his suffering....brilliant

  • @JimmyJamesJimbo
    @JimmyJamesJimbo Pƙed rokem +5

    Nietzsche’s life in and of itself is a Greek tragedy. RIP Nietzsche. And thank you for all that you gave our world you. You brilliant mad bastard you ❀

  • @samrupani4316
    @samrupani4316 Pƙed 3 lety

    Beauty.

  • @davideaston6721
    @davideaston6721 Pƙed 5 lety +3

    Perhaps Durant would be an authority on Nietzsche in our Day had he understood Nietzsche's Will to Power as the culmination of a Higher Drive for Art and Music. Stimmt Das. Durant suffers from infection by the ideological WWI and WWII. C.f . Kaufmann and DeLeuze.

    • @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676
      @napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676 Pƙed 4 lety

      Nietzsche didn't write The Will To Power, as any philosopher will tell you.
      His sister compiled roughly equivalent notes of his together and also wrote in her own anti-semetic remarks and her own
      Lust for power peppers the book.
      Nietzsche was dying under the influence on mental illness by this time.

  • @l1teralcanc3r78
    @l1teralcanc3r78 Pƙed 5 lety +2

    Durant is a venomous contrarian who uses insult rather than rebuttal to combat opposing philosophy.

  • @kazkk2321
    @kazkk2321 Pƙed 4 lety +2

    The fact that one may not directly embody ones philosophy does not mean the philosophy and the personality is weak . Will durrant seems to demand that Nietzsche has to personally embody his philosophy which is not necessary. He is an anti Nietzsche jerk and he was alive I would give him the finger. I'm very much like Nietzsche and have the same problem of trying to balance the demands of kindness, social stability & power. One cannot truly embody one philosophy , one can only hope that the idea takes hold and help humanity . Nietzsche philosophy is still superior to Christianity

  • @LuisRios-bf9vn
    @LuisRios-bf9vn Pƙed rokem +1

    I think this is my 10th time I listen to this or even more I love Will Durant.

  • @kellyw8017
    @kellyw8017 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    Maybe I'm missing something, but at times, it's difficult to know when Durant is quoting Nietzsche vs. adding his own comment. Wish he had added a lot of "Nietzsche said." Perhaps if reading the book, it would be clear.

    • @Infamous41
      @Infamous41 Pƙed 2 lety

      He kinda changes his voice but at times I can't tell eithrr

  • @aroucaman100
    @aroucaman100 Pƙed 7 lety +1

    I find power hunger individuals are paranoid....about staying in power....as a person with no aspiration to be lord over anyone...i find myself quite happy!!! ..i don't need to rule anyone...to be relevant ....THIS IS MY SHOW!!!!...WHEN I AM DEAD THE SHOW IS OVER FOR ME!!! SO I AM THE MOST RELEVANT PERSON ....IN MY LIFE...WHEN I AM GONE...SHOW OVER!!!

  • @tyronefrielinghaus3467
    @tyronefrielinghaus3467 Pƙed 3 měsĂ­ci

    Why have you disabled closed captions? They really help me.

  • @lauraastudillo411
    @lauraastudillo411 Pƙed 8 lety +5

    He was an incredible man,he tried to substitute the actual morality of this world ,but it is almost impossible to even mention such intention,we will embrace our interpretation of our decadent sense of morality and when he speaks of the Superman he
    refers to the great man or human that may be found only in the future, But that is so far in time that it will take centuries to find those that will be born in a society free of the toxicity injected in every human at the time we are born and then we spend a life time searching the truth.

  • @andreewert1142
    @andreewert1142 Pƙed 5 lety +6

    From Wiki: William James "Will" Durant was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. He became best known for his work The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, Ariel Durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy, described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".More at Wikipedia
    Born:
    William James Durant, Nov 5, 1885, North Adams, Massachusetts, United States
    Died:
    Nov 7, 1981, Los Angeles, California, United States
    Occupation:
    Historian, writer, philosopher, teacher

    • @Oners82
      @Oners82 Pƙed 4 lety

      Is there a point to that?

    • @corvettefever360
      @corvettefever360 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      The " Absolute power corrupts absolutely " is by Will & Ariel Durant , by the way. Just saying

    • @petercarson7260
      @petercarson7260 Pƙed 3 lety

      David Grant : respectfully - you are quite mistaken, as to origin of what may be referred to as a “legal bromide” .
      Lord Achton 1870
      “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely. “

  • @jburron
    @jburron Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci

    “Fitness” is not about strength. It is about one’s “fit” to the environment. A strong organism that is not fit for the current environment can easily perish.

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci

      It's interesting to put the darwinian perpective in an experiencial framework. I've always thought the that two didn't mix well.

  • @humaneskits9318
    @humaneskits9318 Pƙed 4 lety +2

    40:24 "eytemologies that are not quite beyond reproach"
    57:40

  • @KevinMDowney
    @KevinMDowney Pƙed 10 měsĂ­ci

    How do I find the person that is behind this channel?

  • @nealgrey6485
    @nealgrey6485 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Nicely done.

  • @strangersound
    @strangersound Pƙed 5 lety +1

    Nietzsche and Schopenhauer appealed to logic...their critics and champions of opposing ideals use appeals to your emotion. And it's ultimately always more effective to manipulate people through appeals to their emotion than their logic. Those that try to manipulate your emotions are trying to control you, those that appeal to your logic are trying to liberate you.

    • @shellyshelly9218
      @shellyshelly9218 Pƙed rokem

      What a ridiculous over-simplification. Nietzsche absolutely did not appeal to logic, quite the opposite. Go and read him!

  • @gayfrogs4206
    @gayfrogs4206 Pƙed 3 lety

    Master of the second veil

  • @CamelMoonStudios
    @CamelMoonStudios Pƙed rokem

    Philosophy starts at 40:20

  • @kellykizer6718
    @kellykizer6718 Pƙed 4 lety +6

    Lmfao. Nice hidden hand pose right from jump street his first picture when he's 16 lol.

    • @martinarreguy2984
      @martinarreguy2984 Pƙed 3 měsĂ­ci

      The hidden hand and all-seeing eye great observation definitely initiated. A sneaky bunch they are to us the profaine!

  • @johnmiller7453
    @johnmiller7453 Pƙed 6 lety +2

    Nietzsche has something to say to us. However I'm still curious about the incident with the horse that was taking that beating. Anyone below want to interpret that event?

    • @fedorpristupa9292
      @fedorpristupa9292 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      I think Dostoevsky did it to him via Crime and Punishment.... It is very very strange coincidence... Nietzsche read a lot of Dostoevsky... It's freaky

    • @craignitzke5692
      @craignitzke5692 Pƙed rokem

      Those who are week minded fulfill themselves who cannot speak

  • @allrise3056
    @allrise3056 Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci +1

    I slow playback to .75. Then it’s a straight run to the Land of Dreams.

  • @holderlin13
    @holderlin13 Pƙed 7 lety +17

    "Seldom has a man paid so greater price for genius" - The trilogy of madness: "Hölderlin, Schumann, Nietzsche"

  • @vladimirsolovyov666
    @vladimirsolovyov666 Pƙed 2 lety

    Rob Sips describes in madness a dialectic of aha and anti-aha experiences, specifically of a succession of insights and counter-insights, which cancel out the previous insights.
    "The psychotic's real concerns are the philosopher's theoretical train of thought." (Wouter Kusters)
    "Reason needs but a moment to deviate from the path which the Church has marked out and paved, or it immediately loses its track. As soon as it loses the great common road, it disintegrates." (Montaigne)
    Nietzsche wrote: we free spirits are gloomy because we have no way. Without a way, no friends to meet along the way. Nietzsche also wrote: only equals are good company but free spirits have no equals.
    Free spirits have no tradition, no great common road. According to Nietzsche we have to experiment, build the way for the next 300 years. As experimenters we are merely intermediate forms. But out of our experiments a new tradition will be born. In that sense we are firstfruits, not epigones. What is at stake though in my opinion is friendship. Nietzsche's philosophy is at heart a philosophy of friendship.

  • @maxpercer7119
    @maxpercer7119 Pƙed 3 měsĂ­ci +1

    Is there a way to add this to spotify so i can listen to this in my car?

    • @DurantandFriends
      @DurantandFriends  Pƙed 3 měsĂ­ci

      That's a great idea. I think I can do it. Watch for Durant and Friends on Spotify; give me a week to get everything uploaded.

  • @liztsutski
    @liztsutski Pƙed 4 lety

    Will Durant - nice discovery. thanks

  • @davideaston6721
    @davideaston6721 Pƙed 5 lety +3

    Actually "Superman" stems from Emerson's "Over Soul" ...as is so much of Nietzsche's writing.

    • @spencerwinston4334
      @spencerwinston4334 Pƙed 3 lety

      Fascinating observation, please elaborate if possible on how and to the extent Emerson influenced Nietzsche. Emerson and Nietzsche are both seemingly from another realm in their Olympian talents and full-spectrum, profound understanding of the human condition. Thank you for sharing.

    • @spencerwinston4334
      @spencerwinston4334 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      Jung revealed the distinguishing skill that catapulted Nietzsche into the league of Plato beyond perhaps even Schopenhauer, and Emerson. Nietzsche was highly trained as a classical philologist immersed in the original sources of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. Hence, Nietzsche gained a profound knowledge of the greatest minds of antiquity and could read the source material in a direct first-hand way and not rely on second-hand accounts. Imagine being able to understand all the nuances of source material from the Bible in Hebrew or Plato in Greek to appreciate the nuances and meanings of texts directly rather than to accept second hand some other scholars' interpretation of the passage. Nietzsche's devastating critique of the intellectual edifice of the times originated because he knew how the professors of the time masked the truth to push an agenda, protect an intellectual moat, or just hide the truth from themselves or others for either lack of courage, intellectual depth, or other sinister reasons. Nietzsche lived and breathed for the truth.
      Just as a world-class poker player has to live, breathe and sleep poker to be a world champion, a philosopher on the Olympian level of Nietzsche has to breathe the mountain air of truth every day in a way not possible for a man involved in a daily business or practice such as Jung. Sure, the business can keep the man "grounded", but to reach Nietzsche's Olympian level and full-spectrum dominance philosophical level you need the foundational basics of classical philology combined with a passion and instinct for truth based off an actual reading of ancient wisdom in the original. As German philosopher Schopenhauer observed, unless a man can read Latin and Greek in the original, there will always be a hole in the scholar's education that undermines the depth of his intellectual thought. This observation is a bitter pill for us all in a vapid age of mass media and hollow men. Nietzsche was just such an intellectual tour de force that we will probably never able to appreciate his greatness or sublime gifts to humanity. Greek and Latin are not emphasized in today's propaganda mills of liberal arts universities or even at the time of Jung when studying Latin and Greek required hard work most were not willing to endure.
      Nietzsche was a sublime gift to humanity, and in fact his Navy Seal like attack on the soft, descendent Western philosophers and clergy of the time came with devastating force and mountain lightning speed. Ultimately though, Nietzsche's attack came out of a deep love for man and his no limit potential. Once the blinders came off and courageous, disciplined men were made aware of what the actual classical and Biblical texts meant free of some political or mercenary agenda, Nietzsche allows us all to share in the love for the search for truth. In this sense, Nietzsche, in exposing the agendas of many "translations" and university moat protecting "degrees" brings us all back to ourselves and our higher man potential once we breathe the mountain air of truth, and discover how the truth makes us all free from the agendas and deception of the establishment.

  • @rgaleny
    @rgaleny Pƙed 6 lety +1

    SUCH A PRINCIPLE STRIPPED OF ALL DISGUISE IS THE MERE PRIMITIVE DOCTRINE THAT MIGHT EQUALS RIGHT.

  • @daledesroches2318
    @daledesroches2318 Pƙed 3 lety

    Know thyself and thee will know peace in the midst of chaos.

  • @VII0777
    @VII0777 Pƙed rokem

    It's good to hear those thoughts which run contrary to those most popular in our time. They refresh.

  • @johnnytom1886
    @johnnytom1886 Pƙed 3 lety

    Could you show the words on the video? I'm not English man. Need the word to know the men.