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Weltgeist

Weltgeist

Philosophy, video essays. New videos every week.

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  • 91 episodes
  • Avg 24 min
  • English

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  • Sunday · 16 min

    Why David Lynch Loved Franz Kafka

    In honor of one of the greatest. Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 28 min

    Why Isn't He Screaming?

    Don't miss out on Blinkist's exclusive offer: Get an unprecedented 60% off valid only until November 21st! https://bit.ly/WeltgeistBlinkist Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT WATCH: ▶ Ancient Greece Was a Lot More Violent Than You Think. Here’s Why. https://youtu.be/a4cbNXGOa24 OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I Music: "Awkward Meeting" "George Street Shuffle" "Minima" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 10 min

    Jokes from the Most Pessimistic Philosopher - Schopenhauer

    SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT Schopenhauer on being alone and how to deal with society: ▶ https://youtu.be/eSbaqqDfGxU ▶ SCHOPENHAUER'S WORKS: Parerga and Paralipomena vol. 1: https://amzn.to/3pK6xCj Parerga and Paralipomena vol. 2: https://amzn.to/3jJa2p0 The World as Will and Representation vol. 1: https://amzn.to/3FPGkIj The World as Will and Representation vol. 2: https://amzn.to/3FT0nFC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 12 min

    NIETZSCHE Explained: On the Genealogy of Morals - Introduction (pt. 1)

    WATCH: NIETZSCHE Explained: Beyond Good and Evil (all parts): https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk On the Genealogy of Morals is considered by many to be Nietzsche's masterpiece. It certainly is one of the more accessible works, as it (largely) lacks the poetry and allegory of Thus Spoke Zarathustra and is not as aphoristic as Beyond Good and Evil. On the Genealogy of Morals consists of three essays which will be tackled each in their own, separate video. This introductory video aims to provide a solid understanding by first asking the question: "What exactly is Nietzsche's genealogical method?" and situating the relevance of the Genealogy in the bigger Nietzschean corpus (namely: the transvaluation of all values and setting humanity up for a philosophy and morality of the future.) This is a planned four-part series. If you want to be notified when the other parts are released, please consider subscribing. Leaving comments and liking the video is also greatly appreciated as it helps out the channel a lot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 42 min

    Nietzsche: Why Complaining is for Weak People

    To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/Weltgeist/ . You’ll also get 20% off an annual premium subscription. Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I Nietzsche: Why Complaining is for Weak People Suffering and Human Nature: * Nietzsche acknowledges the ubiquity of suffering in human life, a theme central to many philosophical and religious doctrines. He critiques how different worldviews interpret suffering — from Christianity's promise of an afterlife for salvation to the pessimistic views of philosophers who see life as fundamentally negative. The Strong vs. The Weak: * For Nietzsche, the strong see suffering as a challenge to be overcome, a test of their will. They affirm life, embracing both joy and pain as part of existence. Conversely, the weak succumb to suffering, often by complaining or seeking solace in narratives that justify or blame external factors for their plight. Resentment and Complaining: * Nietzsche introduces the concept of "resentment" (or ressentiment), where the weak, unable to change their circumstances, resort to complaining as a form of imaginary revenge. This act of complaining provides a temporary sense of power, alleviating but not solving the underlying issues. He specifically critiques Christians and anarchists, seeing their ideals of equality as masks for this resentment. Psychological Analysis: * He argues that the weak invent value systems (like religious doctrines or social equality ideals) to cope with their powerlessness. These systems often preach equality not out of genuine belief in justice but as a way to level the playing field by pulling down the strong. This is a form of psychological self-deception, where the weak pretend to desire equality while secretly wishing to possess the power they criticize. Life Affirmation vs. Complaint: * Nietzsche contrasts complaining with his ideal of life-affirmation. He introduces the thought experiment of eternal recurrence from "The Joyful Science," where one must imagine living every moment of life, including its suffering, over and over. Affirming life in this context means loving every aspect, even the suffering, which requires immense psychological strength — an attribute of his concept of the Übermensch (Overman). Conclusion: * Nietzsche's philosophy suggests that complaining does not solve problems but rather reveals one's inability or unwillingness to face life's challenges head-on. Instead, he advocates for an active overcoming of obstacles, embracing life's hardships with a "Yes" to existence in all its forms, which he sees as the path to true power and self-mastery. This perspective is intended to push individuals towards a higher form of living, where one does not merely endure life but celebrates it. In essence, Nietzsche's critique of complaining is not just about stopping the act but about transforming one's approach to life, from one of passive acceptance or resentment to active engagement and affirmation. This video was sponsored by Brilliant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 36 min

    PROMETHEUS: Find a Reason to Bear Suffering

    Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I Prometheus is a Titan from Greek mythology who stole fire to help humanity, and was violently punished for this by Zeus. The figure of Prometheus, and his story, has served as inspiration for artists and philosophers for centuries. For Goethe, Prometheus was a champion of mankind who, in his defiance of Zeus, exemplified mankind's growing to maturity as we reach Enlightenment and mankind starts to defy the Christian God just like Prometheus did Zeus. For Lord Byron, Prometheus was the exemplar of a person who finds something in life worth dying for. For his transgression and theft of the fire, he was chained to a rock for all eternity as a vulture gnaws at his liver daily. Yet Prometheus undergoes his punishment with stoicism, and knows that ultimately, despite his suffering and pain, he had given his life a purpose beyond himself: alleviating the suffering of others by granting mankind knowledge. Byron's message is that we should all find something that makes us want to bear the vulture and the chain. Finally, Nietzsche saw in the Prometheus myth the origin story of Western civilization, contrasted with the Biblical origin story of Adam and Eve. Prometheus brings knowledge to mankind through fire, just as Adam and Eve brought knowledge through the fruit. But this knowledge, in both stories, comes at a cost. For Adam and Eve, it meant banishment from paradise and original sin for mankind. For Prometheus, it meant the vulture, and the knowledge of the suffering of the world for mankind. Thus Prometheus continues to speak to the imagination of many different artists and eras who each find in his story another lesson we inherit, but ultimately the overarching lesson is this: the price for our knowledge as human beings, is that we become aware of the suffering of the world. And it's up to us to learn how to deal with that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 13 min

    Why Schopenhauer Hated Napoleon

    SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT Schopenhauer on being alone and how to deal with society: ▶ https://youtu.be/eSbaqqDfGxU ▶ SCHOPENHAUER'S WORKS: Parerga and Paralipomena vol. 1: https://amzn.to/3pK6xCj Parerga and Paralipomena vol. 2: https://amzn.to/3jJa2p0 The World as Will and Representation vol. 1: https://amzn.to/3FPGkIj The World as Will and Representation vol. 2: https://amzn.to/3FT0nFC Music: "Crossing the Divide" “Peppers Theme” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 18 min

    NIETZSCHE: How the Real World Became a Myth (Twilight of the Idols)

    WATCH: Nietzsche Explained: Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk Nietzsche Explained: On the Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI This is one of the most dense chapters in Friedrich Nietzsche's entire works. It details in little more than 200 words, the entire history of metaphysics in the Western tradition, from the perspective of Nietzsche's philosophy of the Hinterwelt (the beyond-world, or metaphysics in general). Beginning with Plato, stopping by Christianity, Kant, and the positivists like Auguste Comte, and culminating in Nietzsche and Zarathustra, as represented in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This video deals with a single chapter from Nietzsche's "Twilight of the Idols", one of his later works. In effect, it's a very concise summary of the entirety of the Genealogy of Morals, while much of the alluded-to "philosophy of the future" is explained in his other major work: Beyond Good and Evil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 23 min

    How Philosophy Kills You

    Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 00:35: Heinrich von Kleist 02:53 Immanuel Kant 05:12 Kant the All-Destroyer 08:11 Kleist and Kant 14:26 Now what? Heinrich von Kleist was a German writer who engaged with Kant’s philosophy. Convinced that metaphysics, and thus meaning, were impossible, he ended his life. “My sole and highest aim has vanished. Now I have none.” In 1801, German writer and playwright Heinrich von Kleist first came into contact with the Kantian philosophy. His critique of reason and its limits made a lasting impression on him. The young Kleist had been obsessed with finding the answers to the great questions of life, and in the Age of Enlightenment, Reason seemed to conquer all. However, Immanuel Kant published his Critique of Pure Reason in 1791, and argued that we cannot make definite judgements about the world-in-itself. Our knowledge must be confined to the phenomenon, not the noumenon. For Kleist, this was an admission that humanity’s highest goal would forever be out of reach: the answer to the meaning of life. Life seemed meaningless to him now, truth impossible, hope useless. In his despair, he ended his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 13 min

    Reacting to Pewdiepie's review of Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil

    WATCH: Nietzsche Explained: Beyond Good and Evil (all parts) https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk Pewdiepie's original (full) video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7u-xAWWyK4 A while ago, famous YouTuber Pewdiepie reviewed Friedrich Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil" as part of the book-club segment of his channel. His reaction to Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil was common: just like Pewdiepie himself, many people feel like this book is too difficult for them. In this video we tackle a few of the stumbling blocks encountered by Pewdiepie. If you want to read Beyond Good and Evil yourself, we highly recommend you check out own three-part series on this amazing work of philosophy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Saturday · 23 min

    Why Your 20s Will Suck | Schopenhauer

    Support us on Patreon, get access to exclusive videos: ▶ https://www.patreon.com/WeltgeistYT OUR ANALYSES: ▶ Beyond Good and Evil: https://youtu.be/WIHXZUltfqk ▶ The Antichrist: https://youtu.be/qej1Z8Qzq_c ▶ Genealogy of Morals: https://youtu.be/6PUx4cOfFcI ▶ Twilight of the Idols: https://youtu.be/YpVr_NEvWYA ▶ The Will to Power: https://youtu.be/He6ZC7ZFBt8 ▶ Daybreak: https://youtu.be/cOL2z7nuXdA ▶ The Joyful Science: https://youtu.be/U0fTBOJ-C_I Arthur Schopenhauer, in his essay "Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life," reflects on the fleeting nature of time and the stages of human life, using the metaphor of the solar system’s planets to illustrate each phase. He argues that life passes quickly, often unnoticed until old age, when we realize its brevity. Schopenhauer suggests that awareness of time’s flow can help us appreciate the moment and navigate life’s challenges with wisdom. Childhood (Mercury): Represented by Mercury, childhood is a blissful, rapid-moving phase under the influence of the clever and eloquent Hermes. Free from the "Will to Life" (Schopenhauer’s concept of an innate drive), children live in pure cognition, unburdened by desire, assuming good parenting shields them from suffering. Puberty/Youth (Venus): Venus, the goddess of love, governs this stage starting around age 20. The sexual drive awakens, dominating and distracting individuals from higher pursuits like philosophy. This "devil" fosters a "moderate madness," driving social behavior and conflict as individual differences emerge. Adulthood (Mars, Planetoids): At 30, Mars rules with strength and defiance. Intellectual capacity peaks, though sexual distraction persists. By 40, the four planetoids (Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, Juno) symbolize a stabilizing phase—accumulating wealth, knowledge, and domestic order. Middle Age (Jupiter): At 50, Jupiter, king of the gods, reigns. This is the peak of genius, where experience and authority balance declining raw intellect, free from youthful distractions. It’s a time of independence and mastery. Old Age (Saturn, Uranus): At 60, Saturn, the god of time, brings awareness of mortality, slowing life with a heavy, lead-like quality. By Uranus (death), we transition from earthly to heavenly spheres. Schopenhauer sees death not as an end but a return of the Will, hinting at a cycle tied to life’s beginning. Schopenhauer concludes with a poetic lament about Neptune’s naming (preferring Eros to link love and death) and muses on death as a "reservoir of life," echoing ancient myths. His essay, written in old age, blends pragmatic advice—like prioritizing health—with philosophical depth, offering a guide to life’s inevitable highs and lows. This work, rich in metaphor and wisdom, serves as both a map and mirror for navigating existence, urging us to face life’s transient beauty and struggles with awareness and resilience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 81–91 of 91 episodes