Nietzsche's Final Teaching

by Michael Allen Gillespie

In the seven and a half years before his collapse into madness, Nietzsche completed Thus Spoke Zarathustra , the best-selling and most widely read philosophical work of all time, as well as six additional works that are today considered required reading for Western intellectuals. Together, these works mark the final period of Nietzsche’s thought, when he developed a new, more profound, and more systematic teaching rooted in the idea of the eternal recurrence, which he considered his deepest thought.

Cutting against the grain of most current Nietzsche scholarship, Michael Allen Gillespie presents the thought of the late Nietzsche as Nietzsche himself intended, drawing not only on his published works but on the plans for the works he was unable to complete, which can be found throughout his notes and correspondence. Gillespie argues that the idea of the eternal recurrence transformed Nietzsche’s thinking from 1881 to 1889. It provided both the basis for his rejection of traditional metaphysics and the grounding for the new logic, ontology, theology, and anthropology he intended to create with the aim of a fundamental transformation of European civilization, a “revaluation of all values.” Nietzsche first broached the idea of the eternal recurrence in Thus Spoke Zarathustra , but its failure to gain attention or public acceptance led him to present the idea again through a series of works intended to culminate in a never-completed magnum opus. Nietzsche believed this idea would enable the redemption of humanity. At the same time, he recognized its terrifying, apocalyptic consequences, since it would also produce wars of unprecedented ferocity and destruction.

Through his careful analysis, Gillespie reveals a more radical and more dangerous Nietzsche than the humanistic or democratic Nietzsche we commonly think of today, but also a Nietzsche who was deeply at odds with the Nietzsche imagined to be the forefather of Fascism. Gillespie’s essays examine Nietzsche’s final teaching—its components and its political, philosophical, and theological significance. The book concludes with a critical examination and a reflection on its meaning for us today. 
 

Genres: Philosophy

264 pages, Hardcover

Published August 23, 2017

Reviews

[Anmol · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at Nietzsche’s works from the 1880s (from the Gay Science to Ecce Homo - N sure gives a lot of material for people wanting to cook up theories about his private life!), before his descent into madness in early 1889. I think this started off really well, analysing the central role of the eternal recurrence in Nietzsche’s mature work; and Gillespie rightly argues that this one thought – his “final teaching” – served as a revaluation of all his previous work (as witnessed by his 1886 new prefaces to his previous publications). In this sense he is inspired by Lampert. He also has a fascinating interpretation of the eternal recurrence as an "anti"-metaphysics; a purposeless play of Becoming with no Being as the nature of the world, almost like the Hindu doctrine of leela (once rid of the god whose play it all is - or is that god Dionysus?)

But midway through the book we find somewhat unrelated, long essays on Nietzsche as a musical thinker, and what that means for his "anti-metaphysics". I was hoping for a more sustained and technical discussion of what Gillespie meant by this term; but I couldn’t really find that. There are also some interesting essays towards the end comparing Nietzsche on nihilism and warrior-aristocracy with Dostoyevsky and Plato respectively. But again, not enough about “Nietzsche’s Final Teaching” in here.

[Qiang Zhang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good illuminating read on basics of Nietzsche’s philosophy. Enjoyed particularly the analysis of Nietzsche’s musical politics and his use of sonata form in Twilight and Ecce Homo, in addition to comparing Nietzsche to Plato. Felt some aspects of the book did not connect well, and layout wasn’t clear; also wish the author (or, perhaps this is more Nietzsche’s fault) elaborated more on how eternal recurrence and what “everything” constitutes- actions? Thoughts? Behaviors? Some tenants were more vague than others. Also felt same message was reiterated, repetitively, throughout the book.

[Kevin Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Following is a review of another Gillespie book, "The Theological Origins of Modernity"

Consisting of eight distinct chapters, entitled "The Nominalist Revolution and the Origin of Modernity," "Petrarch and the Invention of Individuality," "Humanism and the Apotheosis of Man," "Luther and the Storm of Faith," "The Contradictions of Pre-modernity," "Descartes' Path to Truth," "Hobbes's Fearful Wisdom," and "The Contradictions of Enlightenment and the Crisis of Modernity," Michael Allen Gillespie's book "The Theological Origins of Modernity" is an effort from its very beginnings that promises to makes its contents up to date (it was published in 2008). And, to a certain extent, Mr. Gillespie is quite successful in making his thesis, that modernity's roots are necessarily theological to the core, relevant to the world in which he was writing (the world of the "War on Terror" brought about by the events of 9/11). He does this by making a connection between the plight of the Islamic World in the late 2000s to the world of Europe at the time of the Reformation and the 'shaking out' of the Early Modern Period. In fact, as the author clearly shows, there are many similarities between the Islamic World's 'troubles' with the ideals of Modernity and the problems of Europe in its transition from the Medieval World to the period of Hobbes, Descartes, and Kant. The method by which, in the book proper, that the author does this feat? By carefully, and painstakingly, explaining the times of the relevant thinkers, the main tenets of their thought or projects, and how they interacted with each other. And boy does Mr. Gillespie marshalls a comprehensive view of 'his' thinkers. For the ideas, and motivations, of thinkers as diverse as scholastics such as Thomas and his master Aristotle are contrasted with the Nominalists, such as William of Ockham, and how they engendered a 'dialogue' in Western ideas that propelled the engine of history through the Reformation, to the Wars of Religion, to the graveyards of the 20th century, is a joy to read: enlightening and satiating to the mind. And all the thinkers are here: Aquinas, Meister Eckhart, Luther, Erasmus, Descartes, Hobbes. But no mere summary is given, rather the interrelationships, the dialectical interactions, are offered up to the reader like so many delightful treats at a cocktail party. The result? Deep knowledge and appreciation of the role theological issues have played in the history and development of modernity, and the effects on our world today (once again, the 9/11 reference). Enjoyable, profound, delightful. Rarely are those adjectives used to describe and theology/philosophy book, but here they are particularly pertinent. This is a fine book, relevant for the generalist as well as the expert in the field!

[Steve DePangher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear exposition of Nietzsche's thoughts in his last years

I am no Nietzsche scholar, though I have struggled for several years (mostly through trying to comprehend The Genealogy of Morals) to see if his thought can become meaningful to high school seniors. I found Gillespie's book incredibly clear and helpful. In areas in which I feel I have some expertise, Gillespie's analysis continually rang true - the exceptions being in some small areas of detail. Perhaps the most important part of Gillespie's book is that he challenges us to take Nietzsche seriously at his (difficult to understand) word: Nietzsche was intensely serious and intentional - a missionary and not just an elitist scholar (although he was those things too). My favorite chapter in the book was Gillespie's comparison of Plato with Nietzsche.

[Rahim Hashim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less cohesive than I had hoped, and did not go into as much depth into eternal recurrence as the description implies. Overall a good overview of Nietzsche’s later works, especially if you (like me) had little previous exposure to his work, but lots left to unpack across all of the major philosophical ideas touched upon.

[Will Spohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good observations, especially in relation to the musical structure of Nietzsche’s works, but ultimately I think falls a bit short. I was expecting more detail and focus on the eternal recurrence itself, and I didn’t really get that. There is some good textual interpretation, but not enough. There was also too much repetition of certain things, and I some claims felt unwarranted.

[Joel Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

// eh