Episode 9| Zarathustra Despisers of the Body| Instinctual Drives, the Body and the Self

In the ninth episode of Dissecting Philosophy with Dr McDonald, he discusses the section Of The Despisers of the Body in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

The episode discusses the traditional view in philosophy where the mind has control over the body and is the basis for our ideas of the Self. This is illustrated in the philosophies of Descartes and Hegel. Nietzsche's view, influenced by Schopenhauer, argues for a reversal of this model where the instinctual and drives of our body effect our ideas and idea of the Self.

Kant's aesthetics view is also briefly discussed. Kant argues that art should be free from any relation to our desire or bodily drives. Whilst Nietzsche's view is that it is impossible for art to remain completely free from them.

If you would like to follow along we are using the Penguin edition translated by R. J. Hollingdale.

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Find Dr McDonald on Twitter: @iamarubberman

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