The Nietzsche Podcast 106: Emil Cioran - On the Heights of Despair
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Jan 7, 2025 Explore the depths of despair through the lyrical outpourings of Emil Cioran in his infamous work. Discover how chaos and emotional turmoil fuel true creativity, contrasting Cioran's angst with Nietzsche's idealism. Delve into the intersections of suffering, nihilism, and heroism as Cioran critiques both. The podcast reveals how literature can confront existential madness, illustrating that the impulse for artistic expression often emerges from profound inner struggles. It's a journey through despair and the absurdity of life.
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Werther Effect
- Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther led to copycat suicides.
- This "Werther Fever" prompted bans and Goethe's plea: "Be a man and don't follow me."
Goethe's Catharsis
- Goethe may have created Werther to avoid suicide, exorcising his inner demons through writing.
- He claimed to have "exercised" Werther "so well that he did not suffer at all."
Power of Ideas
- We overestimate ideas' power, blaming books for suicides instead of underlying issues.
- This stems from modern society's idealism and a need to validate our own philosophies.
