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'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'
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'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'

Nietzsche's ascetic practices « Previous | |Next »
August 7, 2006

I'm back from holidays. I''ve just noted this review of a book by Horst Hutter entitled Shaping the Future: Nietzsche's New Regime of the Soul and Its Ascetic Practices. It accords with my understanding of Nietzsche's moral philosophy, namely philosophy as a form of therapy, the understanding of which is based on philosophers in antiquity.

Hutter says that Nietzsche's philosophical striving is designed to initiate ascetic labors of self-transformation in free-spirited readers and to provide the foundation for the creation of new values.therapeutic project Hutter says that Nietzsche's philosophical therapy falls into two phases, one deconstructive and one reconstructive: the task involves both a conceptual effort to undo his and others' 'embodied' opinions and then awakening the ability to move toward a vibrant 'healing culture' based on an affirmation of life.Nietzsche's texts are intended to recruit those whom he calls free spirits, but the task to which they are called is to become "commanders and legislators, [who] determine the whereto and the what--for all human beings.

Hutter interprets this philosophical therapy in terms of a five-step program for self-overcoming:

The "ascetic labors" outlined under this program include (1) retreats into solitude, (2) the cultivation of challenging (even agonistic) friendships, (3) relentless self-scrutiny in the exercise of writing and reading, (4) close attention to "nutrition" (in an expansive sense that includes food as well as ideas and environmental stimuli of all sorts), and finally, (5) the physical activity of dance.

It's a more classical--Stoic--reworking of self-creation, in the form of "giving style" to one's character.

| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 11:31 PM | | Comments (1)
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A different reading of Hutter's Shaping the Future:

http://nietzschecircle.com/review1.html

Hutter, along with Agnes Heller, will be one of the leading 'erotic educators'
in the Nietzsche Circle's modern day symposium on Friday October 13th at 7 PM.

here will be food, wine, music, and dancing.

NYU Kimmel Center, Rm 905
60 Washington Sq South

rsvp to: goatvines@hotmail.com