Scholar Commons

Title

Nietzsche, Eternal Recurrence, and the Horror of Existence

Authors

Philip J. Kain, Santa Clara UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2007

Publisher

Penn State University Press

Abstract

Nietzsche believed in the horror of existence—in a world filled with meaningless suffering. He also believed in eternal recurrence—that our lives will repeat infinitely and that in each life every detail will be exactly the same. Furthermore, it was not enough that eternal recurrence simply be accepted—Nietzsche demanded that it be loved. Thus the philosopher who introduces eternal recurrence is the very same philosopher who also believes in the horror of existence—a paradox that is completely overlooked by commentators (who thus fail to adequately understand Nietzsche). All of this demands careful explanation.

Comments

Copyright © 2007 The Pennsylvania State University Press. This article is used by permission of The Pennsylvania State University Press.

http://doi.org/10.1353/nie.2007.0007

Recommended Citation

Kain, P. J. "Nietzsche, Eternal Recurrence, and the Horror of Existence," The Journal of Nietzsche Studies, 33 (2007): 49-63.