Story of a Heart: what does it mean to really be alive in this world?
COURSE OUTLINE
Join Now
Enter
Thus spoke…
Nietzsche’s classic Thus Spoke Zarathustra is often described as an anti-Bible Bible, and the figure of Zarathustra often described as an anti-Christian Christ, a text that speaks directly to and from the heart (“a book for all and none”). What does this bleeding heart still have to say to us in the 21st century?
The live course is over, but the recorded version is available indefinitely.
“I teach you the overman. Human being is something that must be overcome. What have you done to overcome him?”
Form(s) of the Overman.
Nietzsche (through Zarathustra) tells us that God is Dead, and that the meaning of the Earth is the overman. For Nietzsche it is the form of the overman that drives all meaning for being truly alive, and that this meaning is the coming-to-be of the overman, which dictates the future itself. So what is this form (forms?), and how are we to understand these ideas for today, in the cracks of our own personal struggles?
-
Man
What does it mean to be a man in this world? Zarathustra presents his ethics and principles for the overman.
-
Society
What is the overman’s views of human society? Zarathustra presents an overview of complex social dynamics
-
Path
What is the nature of the journey to the overman? Zarathustra presents the risks and pitfalls in the journey to love of eternal repetition.
-
Leader
What is the overman for society, society for the overman? Zarathustra sacrifices his aloneness to become a leader of the future overmen.
“All creatures so far created something beyond themselves; and you would go back to animals rather than overcome humans?”
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME IS AVAILABLE FOR A LIFETIME
-
Introduction
-
The Overman
-
The Society
-
The Path
-
The Leader
-
Conclusion
Access the recorded course now:
Enter
Join Now
An intro-series attempting to simplify and communicate the main concepts of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, a good preparation for the course.
Act 1/4
This is an introduction to the first act of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, titled “Introducing the Overman”, and it will give you a good overview to concepts that will be explored in far greater depth in the course itself.
Act 2/4
This is an introduction to the second act of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, titled “Introducing the Society”, and it will give you a good overview to concepts that will be explored in far greater depth in the course itself.
Act 3/4
This is an introduction to the third act of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, titled “Introducing the Pathway”, and it will give you a good overview to concepts that will be explored in far greater depth in the course itself.
Act 4/4
This is an introduction to the fourth and final act of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, titled “Introducing the Leader”, and it will give you a good overview to concepts that will be explored in far greater depth in the course itself.
A series of dialogues, covering topics from Christianity to Nihilism to Women to Futures, which aim to bring Nietzsche to life today.
Nietzsche is often perceived as Christianity's arch-enemy, a man who opens and closes his philosophy around topics that force Christianity into its own abyss. Nietzsche's work has had far reaching implications for 20th century theology, his ideas about the "Death of God", and the "slave mentality" of religious subjectivity maintain their power into the 21st century. Today it is not uncommon for secular society to proclaim that God and religious subjectivity are dying out, and that, in the future, subjectivity will totally break the metaphysical shackles of our past, forming a new consciousness without an other-worldly master capable of grounding virtues of good and evil, heaven and hell. Here I attempt to dialogue with Paul Robson, founder of Maniphesto, part of a larger European Men's Network, a former secular atheist in the Dawkins tradition, and now a self-identified Christian whose belief in God has helped him to build a new movement towards empowered masculinity in the 21st century. How can we think some of Nietzsche's philosophical challenges for Christian theology?
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (1):
NIETZSCHE VS. CHRISTIANITY
W/ PAUL ROBSON
Layman Pascal is co-founder of The Integral Stage and also a theorist of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. There are many different possible interpretations of Nietzsche's work, as has been demonstrated over the course of the past century. Nietzsche's work has influenced psychoanalysis, social theory, theology, new age spirituality, poetry, literature and art, and even theorists working in areas of speculative cosmology and evolutionary theory. In this discussion we seek to explore the way Layman Pascal makes sense of Nietzsche, and how he views his potential importance to the development of the "liminal web", among other adjacent movements and projects, like Ontario Depth Adaptation. Major themes we discuss include how to read Nietzsche, Nietzsche as an “Integral Post-Metaphysical Spiritual Thinker'“, the role of Zarathustra as a character, Nietzsche’s big history involving the role of the will to power, as well as the concept of eternal recurrence.
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (2):
PASCAL’S NIETZSCHE
W/ LAYMAN PASCAL
Thomas Hamelryck is a professional computer scientist and wild Girardian theorist. Girard's mimetic theory here forms the foundation for our dialogue on the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. According to Girard, Nietzsche was great example of the phenomenon of mimetic rivalry, where his desire for greatness was (paradoxically) fuelled by the emotions of resentment and envy for those who possessed talents or persons that he did not. Perhaps the best example of this can be seen in Nietzsche's relationship with Richard Wagner. From this starting point we will have the chance to explore the nature of mimetic rivalry in the digital-internet age, and the dangers of interpreting Nietzsche as a prophet or saviour, when in reality he struggled with human, all too human, problems. In this discussion, some salient topics included the difference between Dionysus and Apollo as Tantra and Sutra; a Girardian politics of communism or the extreme left, and fascism or the extreme right; Girard’s view on 20th century philosophy, including a focus on Heidegger; as well as an approach to a general theory of religion.
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (3):
MIMETIC THEORY
W/ THOMAS HAMELRYCK
Thomas Winn is a philosopher and doctoral student with an interest in the phenomenon of nihilism and the post-modern human condition. In his work, he draws on the historical tradition of thinkers which include Hegel, Nietzsche and Heidegger, as well as contemporary philosophical work of Gianni Vattimo and Slavoj Žižek. In this discussion we seek to explore topic of nihilism and its overcoming with Nietzsche’s concepts of the will to power and eternal recurrence. Here we situate both concepts in relation to the postmodern problem of “the understanding’s” desire for “fixed values”, and its relation to the thing-in-itself, which appears to be fundamentally transient, and thus unfixable. We discuss how this situation produces a source of resentment and general negative emotionality, which is involved in confronting a groundless real (e.g. Death of God), or a gap between the “I” of the understanding and the “it” of the fixed representation. To really reconcile ourselves with this groundless real, we suggest that both the will to power and the eternal recurrence point towards a becoming of becoming itself. Practically speaking, when the understanding no longer fixes even the notion of becoming, letting it go for an affirmation of life flux, we may be free to explore the absolute or the eternal, as that which is a continually recurring novelty in the gap.
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (4):
OVERCOMING NIHILISM
W/ THOMAS WINN
Nietzsche made a controversial impact in many different fields, and focused on many different topics. Perhaps the most controversial field/topic would include Nietzsche's "feminism" and his views on women. These views are often interpreted as complex, contradictory, and even (for some), an embarrassing and anachronistic low-point in Nietzsche's overall philosophy. Whatever specifically can be said about Nietzsche view on women, what is without doubt, is that Nietzsche's philosophy, while pointing towards a universal horizon of becoming with the idea of the overman, still recognizes sexual difference between men and women as playing an important role in the mediation of the overman. In this discussion, with Pamela von Sabljar, leader of the Nordic Women’s Gathering, we attempt to reflection on some crucial passages in Nietzsche as it relates to the body, sexual difference, and women. These reflections include Nietzsche's ideas about "body haters", "pleasures and pains of passion", "chastity", "relations between men and women", as well as "marriage and reproduction".
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (5):
ON WOMEN
W/ PAMELA VON SABLJAR
Alexander Bard is a philosopher and futurist who has been influenced by the work of Nietzsche as a man and philosopher, as well as many Nietzschean concepts. In this final discussion in "The Nietzsche Dialogues", we explore Bard's interpretations of Nietzsche as a philosopher, his potential futures, as well as his own understanding of core Nietzschean concepts: Perspectivism, Overman, Will to Power, Master/Slave Morality, and the Eternal Return. We will attempt to connect how Bard's interpretations of these concepts can help us to reinvent Nietzsche in the 21st century. This includes discussing the way Nietzsche has influenced Bard’s latest trilogy, including Syntheism, Digital Libido, and Process & Event, as well as how Nietzsche may be put into conversation with a philosopher who is often seen as his opposite or opponent, G.W.F. Hegel.
THE NIETZSCHE DIALOGUES (5):
FUTURES
W/ ALEXANDER BARD
A series of essays/articles focused on the Logic of Zarathustra, the Core of Nietzsche’s Teaching, and the Field of Post-Nietzschean Interpretation
-
This article attempts to explain the logic of Thus Spoke Zarathustra throughout the four major sections of the work, see: The Logic of Zarathustra
-
This article attempts to introduce you to the five most essential concepts in Nietzsche’s philosophy, see: The Nietzschean Core
-
This article attempts to cover the field of post-Nietzschean interpretation, while not exhaustive, this gives a sense of the depth of his intellectual impact, see: The Field of Nietzschean Interpretation
“What is the ape to a human? A laughing stock or painful embarrassment. That is what the human shall be to the overman.”
“The overman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: the overman shall be the meaning of the earth!”
Testimonials for Philosophy Portal
“Philosophy is moving from print to digital, where I can think of no better thinker to lead that transition than Dr. Cadell Last, as he is both the most promising new philosopher of his generation, and the most formidable teacher and guide into the new. My sincerest hope is that Dr. Last resists the tempting safety of a traditional academic career, and instead sets the standards for the hottest and also most challenging content of the forthcoming edtech empires. This, and nothing less, is what the Philosophy Portal has already proven to be. Digitally savvy as hell, and absolute world class.”
— Alexander Bard, philosopher and co-author of the Futurica Trilogy, Syntheism
“Dr. Last will introduce you to the white-hot core behind the philosophy of the Greats. It will displace your identity, and you will be all the better for it.”
— Daniel Fraga, Author of Ontological Design
“It’s one thing to learn philosophy, but entirely something else to learn that philosophy is a matter of life and death. We can’t escape ideas, but with the right guidance, we can escape bad ones. Dr. Last will not only convince you that life is always philosophical, but he’ll also inspire you to look at yourself, unafraid, and rise to the challenge of Socrates to die well.”
— Daniel Garner, co-creator of O.G. Rose, Author of The Conflict of Mind
“Cadell is a master in making philosophy real and truthful. His courses and 1-on-1 sessions have been a great catalyst for my personal development. Crazy wisdom!”
— Joris de Kelver, A Man Seeking
“The Hegel course was a life-changing experience. Not only were we as course participants guided through the book’s contents in the deepest theoretical way, but Cadell made sure that its complexity related back to the simplicity of embodied choice-making in daily life. Cadell’s way of teaching philosophy, with the structure and method of his courses, are frankly unmatched.”
— Dimitri Crooijmans, Tantric Scientist of Spirit
“In his recent online course on Hegel, Dr. Last managed to make that uber-obscure philosopher accessible, relevant and timely, which is no small feat. This is philosophy firmly grounded in experienced reality, going far beyond dry academia. On top of that, the course was highly interactive, culminating in an online conference with surprising talks on various aspects of Hegel and a matching upcoming edited book by the course’s participants. Looking forward to what Dr. Last will do with Nietzsche next. Highly recommended!”
— Thomas Hamelryck, Computer Scientist and Wild Girardian
“Dr. Last embodies what he teaches, connecting complex ideas and abstractions to the concrete particulars of his experience, exemplifying that philosophy is not merely a profession or past time, but a way of life. His diligence and rigor are matched by an equal degree of contagious existential passion that makes for an exceptional educational experience. He managed to bring the depths of Hegel’s thought to bear on the intimate problems and questions of the 21st century. For those interested in philosophy on the digital frontier, outside the sterile walls of academia, look no further!”
— Quinn Whelehan, philosophy student
“To date, Cadell has seductively initiated me into the thought of Freud, Lacan and Hegel. As a friend and teacher, he always finds ways to connect his lessons to my own life, and my thinking, my projects and my art owe him a great debt.”
— Owen Cox, Founder of TechnoSocial podcast
“Philosophy Portal is just the kind of online experience I’ve been looking for. Dr. Last brings all the heavy artillery of granular erudition with an infectious energy and will to exploration.”
— Alex Ebert, musician, lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
“Dr. Cadell Last is unique among teachers of philosophy today — like Slavoj Žižek he has managed to make philosophy dangerous and existential again, to bring back Freud, Hegel and Nietzsche with a vengeance — and make them fully contemporary, using popular culture memes, rap songs, and personal illuminations to illustrate ideas. His ability to communicate the pith of these philosophers with simplicity, and yet without dumbing them down is singular, and unlike many teachers, who remain in the realm of pure abstraction, Cadell’s classes can provide you with a real learning community, outside the racket of academia, which can actually change your life.”
— Andrew Sweeny, writer, teacher, co-creator of Parallax, Sweeny vs. Bard podcast
“Many people call themselves philosophers in our era, however, they don’t live up to the history of what it truly means to be a philosopher, and in many ways, the meaning of the word has been watered down, or even lost. But Cadell Last is a real philosopher, someone who lives philosophy with his soul, it pours out of this work, he is genuinely a student in the Socratic tradition. The way Cadell teaches philosophy is beautiful and very rare, the Hegel course was phenomenal and the 1-on-1’s I took with him have changed my life for the better, helping me to become a greater philosopher: if you are thinking of doing a course with Cadell, you should, and won’t regret it.”
— Max Macken, philosophy student
“Venturing into the real through the thought of seminal thinkers, Cadell manages to weave complex, philosophical texts into simple notions relating to practical, embodied, everyday living. This makes him a fantastic teacher, and also a great organizer of the class as we had ample discussion time (often going long past scheduled), a bustling community of learners, and of course top-quality memes from Cadell’s meme bank. Philosophy Portal is a boon, I am glad you’ve found it.”
— Raza Ali, Disciple and Guru Demystifier
“As university life finds itself disconnected from its social milieu, works like that of Cadell Last will show us the way. My own associations with him online have been my most wonderful academic experiences, from which I have learned more than most university courses I have taken, and I have been using his content in my own teaching and research for many years. His scholarship on Hegel and psychoanalysis is particularly special and has taken my own thinking forward by connecting it to our present everyday lief, to articulate questions that matter to us today, capturing our zeitgeist.”
— Chetan Anand, doctoral researcher at Tata Institute of Social Sciences
