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1. Nietzsche’s Spirit of Revenge
Nietzsche believed that the thought of the eternal recurrence of the same was the ultimate expression of will to power. Heidegger, however, saw in it the very same “spirit of revenge” from which Nietzsche was trying to escape. In order to see why this is the case, we must review what the spirit of revenge meant for Nietzsche, and how he thought he had eluded it. (more…)
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(Part 3 available here)
1. Will To Power
We have already had occasion in previous installments to discuss will to power (Wille zur Macht), one of the most famous concepts associated with Nietzsche. In this essay, we will go into more detail, and discuss Heidegger’s surprising claim that the doctrines of will to power and the “eternal recurrence of the same” are identical. (more…)
Nietzsche blind to the clearing.
Nietzsche blind to the clearing.
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(Part 2 available here)
1. Nihilism and the Death of God
The preceding installment gave the reader a sketch of Heidegger’s interpretation of Nietzsche. It is now time to go into more detail. Heidegger argues that there are “three axes” of Nietzsche’s philosophy: the eternal return, the will to power, and the revaluation of all values.[1] Our discussion will focus upon these but also cover other matters important for understanding Nietzsche. Ultimately, Heidegger will show that all the different “axes” or aspects of Nietzsche’s philosophy are interrelated, and that a thorough discussion of any one must lead to the others. (more…)
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Collin Cleary discusses what Rome means to him. From the 2026 Counter-Currents Spring Retreat in Rome.
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1. The Metaphysics of Presence
In the last installment, we introduced Heidegger’s claim that Western metaphysics ends with Nietzsche. For Heidegger, metaphysics is the expression of an anthropocentrism that culminates in the meaninglessness and inhumanity of modern technological civilization. With Nietzsche, metaphysics comes full circle and “reverses” Platonism. Nietzsche prepares the ground for the ultimate result of metaphysics, which is not actually a work of philosophy. It is modern technological civilization itself. (more…)
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1. Nietzsche as Essential Thinker
Friedrich Nietzsche is an extraordinarily significant thinker for the Right. His affirmation of hierarchy and natural inequality and his analysis of Leftism as moved by ressentiment are extremely important to us. Yet, viewed from the Right, there are also major problems with Nietzsche’s thought. His historicism and relativism (or “perspectivism”) are both highly problematic. (more…)
Hail to the Day by Arthur Rackham
Hail to the Day by Arthur Rackham
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1. Introduction: Wisdom Speaking
In our last installment, we discussed Sigurd’s meeting with the Valkyrie Brynhild, and how their encounter recapitulates, on a higher level, the dualities found in the story of the dragon slaying. When Sigurd rides through the fire to meet the Valkyrie he is going within his own solar, masculine being to reach the lunar feminine. (more…)
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Since 2011, Counter-Currents has organized private, invitation-only weekend retreats for our writers, donors, and friends. We have had many distinguished speakers and guests, including Jonathan Bowden, Kevin MacDonald, Mark Weber, Jared Taylor, Charles Krafft, Roger Devlin, and Edward Dutton.
The Sistine Chapel. (Photo by Richard Mortel [CC BY])
The Sistine Chapel. (Photo by Richard Mortel [CC BY])
In preparation for my first visit to Rome, I recently watched a documentary about the Sistine Chapel. It explained how the frescoes on the southern wall depict scenes from the life of Moses, while those on the northern wall show the life of Christ — all paired in deliberate, meaningful ways. On the ceiling, of course, are Michelangelo’s magnificent scenes of the Old Testament. (more…)
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1. Brynhild and Sigerdrifa
Sigurd has now slain the dragon Fafnir and tasted his blood, thereby acquiring knowledge of the language of birds. We discussed the esoteric significance of this in the last three installments. The birds tell Sigurd that he ought to ride “up to Hindarfjall, where Brynhild sleeps.” There, they say, “he would learn much wisdom.”[1] This is precisely where Sigurd heads, after loading Fafnir’s cursed treasure onto Grani. Two chapters of the saga are devoted to his meeting with Brynhild, and they are rich with occult significance. Among other things, the first of these chapters is one of the chief sources for our knowledge of rune magic. (more…)
Odin riding Sleipnir in a detail on the Tjängvide stone
Odin riding Sleipnir in a detail on the Tjängvide stone
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1. The Language of Birds
In our last installment, we explored the idea that Sigurd bathing in the dragon’s blood is a symbol for the achievement of the “spiritual corporeality.” In order to complete this alchemical transmutation, however, Sigurd must also consume the dragon’s blood, and its heart. (more…)
Siegfried bathes in the dragon’s blood in Fritz Lang’s 1924 epic Die Nibelungen.
Siegfried bathes in the dragon’s blood in Fritz Lang’s 1924 epic Die Nibelungen.
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1. Why Does Sigurd Slay the Dragon?
In How to Kill a Dragon, the linguist Calvert Watkins explores the common structure of the dragon or serpent slaying myths that are found throughout the Indo-European tradition. Midway through the book, he asks a crucial question, “Why does the hero slay the serpent? What is the function of this widespread if not universal myth, what is its meaning?” His answer employs language that must immediately remind us of Evola’s account of the “heroic path”: “The dragon symbolizes Chaos, in the largest sense, and killing the dragon represents the ultimate victory of Cosmic Truth over Chaos.”[1] (more…)
