Fugitive Pleasure and the Meaningful Life: Nietzsche on Nihilism and Higher Values

Journal of the American Philosophical Association, Volume 1 Issue 3, September 2015, pp. 396-416.

33 Pages Posted: 24 Jul 2018

Date Written: September 1, 2015

Abstract

Nietzsche’s discussions of nihilism are meant to bring into view an intriguing pathology of modern culture: that it is unable to sustain "higher values". This paper attempts to make sense of the nature and import of higher values. Higher values are a subset of final values. They are distinguished by their demandingness, susceptibility toward creating tragic conflicts, recruitment of a characteristic set of powerful emotions, perceived import, exclusionary nature, and their tendency to instantiate a community. The paper considers Nietzsche’s arguments for the claim that we are committed to instituting some set of higher values. The cost of not doing so is vitiating our deepest aim and precluding a central form of happiness.

Keywords: nihilism, meaning of life, pleasure, happiness, meaning

Suggested Citation

Katsafanas, Paul, Fugitive Pleasure and the Meaningful Life: Nietzsche on Nihilism and Higher Values (September 1, 2015). Journal of the American Philosophical Association, Volume 1 Issue 3, September 2015, pp. 396-416., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3207490

Paul Katsafanas (Contact Author)

Boston University ( email )

595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

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