Acid Horizon Georges Bataille’s 'On Nietzsche': War, Chance, and the Collapse of Meaning with Stuart Kendall
Stuart Kendall, a translator known for his work on Georges Bataille, dives deep into Bataille’s 'On Nietzsche,' a philosophical gem penned during World War II. They discuss how Bataille uses Nietzsche as a companion to navigate themes of sovereignty and death amidst chaos. The conversation touches on existential fragility, the ethics of risk, and the concept of 'The Will to Chance' as a response to societal upheaval. Additionally, the emotional resonance of Bataille's work is examined, shedding light on the intricacies of trauma and human experience.
01:44:13
Nature of 'On Nietzsche'
- Georges Bataille's book 'On Nietzsche' is a fragmented, heterogenous assemblage mixing diaries, lectures, and philosophical reflections.
- It transcends a traditional philosophy book, exploring Nietzsche as a companion amid war and existential crisis.
From Will to Power to Chance
- Bataille uses "will to chance" instead of Nietzsche's "will to power" to embrace uncertainty and non-knowledge.
- He aims to move beyond Nietzsche's conceptual philosophy towards a lived experience rejecting utility and mastery.
Philosophy Amid Catastrophe
- Writing philosophy during WWII felt tragically useless but necessary to Bataille.
- He predicted massive war and nuclear destruction and wrestled with how to survive intellectually and ethically.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Bataille and Nietzsche: Reflections in Crisis
02:46 • 6min
Exploring Bataille's Philosophical Landscape
09:01 • 8min
Bataille and Nietzsche: The Will to Chance
16:55 • 41min
Interwoven Philosophies: Bataille and Char
58:10 • 36min
Navigating Bataille's Emotive Landscape
01:33:59 • 6min
Reflections on Writing and Philosophical Exploration
01:40:26 • 2min
The infinite conversation
Maurice Blanchot
'The Infinite Conversation' is a collection of essays by Maurice Blanchot, exploring themes of literature, philosophy, and the nature of language.
Blanchot examines the relationship between writing and the void, the experience of reading, and the limits of representation.
His work is characterized by its dense and allusive style, its exploration of paradox, and its engagement with the works of other major thinkers.
'The Infinite Conversation' offers a profound meditation on the possibilities and limitations of language and thought.
Guilty
Georges Bataille
'Guilty' is a fragmented and intensely personal work in which Bataille explores themes of transgression, eroticism, and the limits of human experience.
Written during World War II, the book reflects Bataille's grappling with the absurdity and horror of the historical moment.
Bataille challenges conventional morality and embraces the irrational and the excessive.
The book is characterized by its confessional tone, its exploration of taboo subjects, and its rejection of traditional philosophical discourse.
'Guilty' is a disturbing and provocative work that offers a glimpse into the dark recesses of the human psyche.
Leaves of Hypnos
René Char
René Char's 'Leaves of Hypnos' is a collection of prose poems and reflections written during his time as a member of the French Resistance during World War II. The book offers a fragmented and evocative portrayal of the experience of resistance, capturing moments of courage, despair, and hope.
Char's writing blends lyrical imagery with stark observations about the violence and moral complexities of war.
'Leaves of Hypnos' stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression and a powerful exploration of the relationship between poetry and action.
Army of shadows
Army of shadows
Joseph Kessel
Joseph Kessel's 'Army of Shadows' is a novel that portrays the experiences of members of the French Resistance during World War II. The book offers a stark and realistic depiction of the moral complexities, psychological toll, and personal sacrifices involved in fighting against Nazi occupation.
Kessel explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a time of extreme conflict.
'Army of Shadows' provides a powerful and unflinching portrayal of the individuals who risked their lives to resist oppression and defend their nation.
The Joyful Science
The Joyful Science
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche's 'The Gay Science' (also known as 'The Joyful Wisdom' or 'The Joyful Science') is a philosophical work that explores themes of knowledge, morality, and the human condition.
Nietzsche introduces the famous proclamation of the 'death of God,' which signifies the decline of traditional religious and metaphysical beliefs.
The book celebrates the power of individual creativity, self-overcoming, and the pursuit of joy in a world without inherent meaning.
Nietzsche's aphoristic style and provocative ideas challenge conventional wisdom and encourage readers to embrace a more affirmative and life-affirming philosophy.
Inner experience
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille's 'Inner Experience' delves into the subjective experience of the sacred and its relationship to the profane world.
Bataille explores the intense emotions and sensations associated with mystical experiences, emphasizing their transformative power.
He challenges traditional philosophical approaches that prioritize reason and objectivity, arguing for the importance of subjective experience in understanding the human condition.
The book's exploration of inner experience is intertwined with Bataille's broader critique of modern society, highlighting the alienation and lack of meaning that characterize contemporary life.
Bataille's work offers a powerful affirmation of the importance of subjective experience and its potential for transcendence.
Blue of Noon
Blue of Noon
Georges Bataille
Harry Mathews
Georges Bataille's 'Blue of Noon' is a novel exploring themes of transgression, excess, and the limits of human experience.
The novel follows the protagonist's descent into a state of profound alienation and his attempts to confront the absurdity of existence.
Bataille's writing style is characterized by its raw intensity and unflinching portrayal of human desires and passions.
The novel's exploration of sexuality, violence, and the sacred challenges conventional moral boundaries.
'Blue of Noon' is considered one of Bataille's most powerful and disturbing works, reflecting his broader philosophical concerns with transgression and the limits of human understanding.
The accursed share
an essay on general economy
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille's 'The Accursed Share' is a seminal work exploring the concept of 'expenditure,' the unproductive use of energy and resources.
Bataille argues that societies must engage in acts of expenditure to maintain their vitality, challenging traditional economic models focused solely on production and accumulation.
He examines various forms of expenditure, including religious sacrifice, war, and the arts, highlighting their role in channeling excess energy.
The book's analysis of expenditure extends beyond economics, encompassing social, psychological, and even cosmological dimensions.
Bataille's work offers a radical critique of capitalist society, proposing alternative models based on the acceptance and celebration of excess.
Storm of Steel
Ernst Jünger
Ernst Jünger's "Storm of Steel" is a firsthand account of his experiences as a German soldier on the Western Front during World War I. The book offers a unique perspective, focusing on the soldier's daily life, the brutality of trench warfare, and the psychological impact of the conflict.
Jünger's writing style is characterized by its stark realism and unflinching portrayal of violence.
The book explores themes of camaraderie, survival, and the dehumanizing effects of war.
It remains a significant work of war literature, offering a valuable insight into the experiences of those who fought in the Great War.
The will to power
Friedrich Nietzsche
The Will to Power is a compilation of Friedrich Nietzsche's notes and fragments, edited and published posthumously by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and others.
The book is based on Nietzsche's intention to write a comprehensive work titled 'The Will to Power, An Attempt at a Revaluation of All Values.
' It explores his central philosophical concept of the 'will to power,' which he believed was the fundamental driving force in all living beings.
The work delves into various aspects of human life, including morality, art, science, and metaphysics, and critiques traditional values and morality.
Despite not being a completed work by Nietzsche himself, it remains a key component of his philosophical legacy.
Of grammatology
Jacques Derrida
In *Of Grammatology*, Jacques Derrida critiques traditional Western philosophy by challenging the binary oppositions and logocentrism that underpin it.
He argues that these oppositions, such as speech vs.
writing, are not fixed but interdependent and can be deconstructed.
Derrida uses the works of Rousseau and Lévi-Strauss to illustrate his points and proposes a new science of writing, or grammatology, which seeks to understand the complex play of signs and meanings.
The book is a seminal work in deconstruction and has had a significant impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and intellectual history.
Theory of Religion
Theory of Religion
None
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille's 'Theory of Religion' delves into the nature of religion, exploring its connection to sacrifice, expenditure, and the sacred.
Bataille challenges traditional understandings of religion, arguing that it's not primarily concerned with morality or social order but with the experience of the sacred, which he associates with excess and transgression.
He analyzes various religious practices and rituals, highlighting their role in channeling and managing excess energy.
The book's central concept is 'expenditure,' the idea that societies must engage in acts of unproductive expenditure to maintain their vitality.
Bataille's work offers a radical reinterpretation of religion, emphasizing its role in confronting and celebrating the limits of human existence.
Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Inner experience
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille's 'Inner Experience' delves into the subjective experience of the sacred and its relationship to the profane world.
Bataille explores the intense emotions and sensations associated with mystical experiences, emphasizing their transformative power.
He challenges traditional philosophical approaches that prioritize reason and objectivity, arguing for the importance of subjective experience in understanding the human condition.
The book's exploration of inner experience is intertwined with Bataille's broader critique of modern society, highlighting the alienation and lack of meaning that characterize contemporary life.
Bataille's work offers a powerful affirmation of the importance of subjective experience and its potential for transcendence.
Antisemitism
Antisemitism
Jean-Paul Sartre
The rebel
Albert Camus
In 'The Rebel', Albert Camus delves into the nature of rebellion and revolution, exploring their motivations, historical developments, and philosophical implications.
The book discusses how rebellion stems from a human rejection of normative justice and the absurdity of the world.
Camus distinguishes between true and false freedom, critiques various historical and intellectual figures such as the Marquis de Sade and Friedrich Nietzsche, and analyzes the French Revolution and other revolutionary movements.
He argues that while rebellion gives life its value and is a constant confrontation between man and his own obscurity, it often leads to totalitarianism and oppression if not tempered by moral and metaphysical limitations.
The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining individual freedom and solidarity in the face of rebellion and revolution.
Being and Nothingness
Jean-Paul Sartre
In 'Being and Nothingness,' Jean-Paul Sartre delves into the fundamental categories of being and nothingness.
He distinguishes between 'being-in-itself' (objects that simply exist and are unaware of themselves) and 'being-for-itself' (human consciousness, which is self-aware and free).
Sartre argues that human beings are characterized by their freedom and responsibility, and that they must create their own being through their actions in the world.
The book also introduces the concept of 'being-for-others,' highlighting the impact of others on our self-perception.
Sartre rejects traditional notions of a transcendent reality and instead emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and authenticity in human existence.
What does it mean to write philosophy in a time of catastrophe? In this episode, we’re joined once again by Stuart Kendall to explore Georges Bataille’s On Nietzsche, a fragmented, intimate, and disorienting text written in the final years of World War II. We examine how Nietzsche becomes not just a philosophical reference but a companion for Bataille—a figure through whom Bataille grapples with sovereignty, death, and the limits of knowledge. From Sartre’s accusations of mysticism to the will to chance as a response to fascism and nuclear horror, we trace how On Nietzsche opens up an ethics of risk, uselessness, and survival.
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