The Nietzsche Podcast The Gay Science #14 (III.148-III.175)
Apr 29, 2025
Delve into the Renaissance and Reformation, exploring the clash between piety and rationalism in Europe. Discover Nietzsche's insights on culture, truth, and the burden of memory, questioning the evolution of virtues over time. Navigate the complexities of maintaining resoluteness amidst societal pressures. Reflect on the nature of strength and the liberating power of true success versus revenge. Finally, challenge democratic norms and the shallow nature of public eloquence, revealing how individual perspectives shape our moral landscape.
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German Church and Reformation
- Nietzsche explains the Protestant Reformation in Germany arose because the German Church was least corrupt but most dogmatic.
- This created a clash with the corrupt Catholic Church, prompting demand for reform at a moment ripe for it.
Greek Religions vs Northern Reform
- Greek attempts at new religions failed due to the society's heterogeneity and diverse needs.
- This contrasts with the success of Luther's Reformation in homogeneous, monotonous Northern Europe.
Brutal Virtue of Saints
- Christian saints pushed virtues to brutal extremes, cultivating self-discipline as a tool of power rather than self-mastery.
- Their asceticism serves to dominate others by elevating themselves morally above the natural world.
