Scribd
Upload
3 views

PHIL

The documentary explores Nietzsche's role as a major critic of modernity, his declaration that 'God is dead', and the implications of this for European thought and morality. It discusses Nietzsche's concepts of the Übermensch, eternal recurrence, and the creation of personal values, as well as his struggles with mental health in later years. The film emphasizes Nietzsche's lasting influence on philosophy and the importance of individual moral responsibility.

Uploaded by

zongob146
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views

PHIL

The documentary explores Nietzsche's role as a major critic of modernity, his declaration that 'God is dead', and the implications of this for European thought and morality. It discusses Nietzsche's concepts of the Übermensch, eternal recurrence, and the creation of personal values, as well as his struggles with mental health in later years. The film emphasizes Nietzsche's lasting influence on philosophy and the importance of individual moral responsibility.

Uploaded by

zongob146
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Viewing Guide: Nietzsche Documentary: Sea of Faith: Don Cupitt

QUESTIONS ANSWERS
SEGMENTS
Intro
1. What one-word role in the introduction does To me, Nietzsche is this major critic who questions everything
the speaker say that Nietzsche has assumed in the in the modern world.
Modern Age?
2. At 36 years of age what does Nietzsche At 36, he decided to focus entirely on writing and philosophy,
become? leaving his university job behind.
3. List three or four facts that you found out about
Nietzsche’s life in this intro segment
4. What book did Nietzsche intend for his book His book Thus Spoke Zarathustra was his way of offering an
titled Zarathustra to replace, and why did he write alternative to the Bible, promoting the idea of the
it? Übermensch and challenging traditional values.
Parable of the Madman--God is Dead
5. Who, according to Nietzsche, has killed God? Nietzsche believed that humanity "killed" God by becoming
more rational and secular.
6. Why does Nietzsche think he’s come too soon? He thought his ideas were ahead of their time, that people
weren't ready to grasp them yet.
7. Explain European thought regarding God and In Europe, God used to be a central guide for moral and
what God’s role was for Western civilization. What existential meaning, and His death left a big existential void.
does Nietzsche think that the death of God has
brought about?
8. Nietzsche believed that nihilism had occurred Nietzsche saw the end of old values as potentially leading to
about a century before and he was the despair, but also as an opportunity to create new values.
“paradoxical prophet” proclaiming this event.
What is the end result of a nihilistic worldview
according to the speaker?
Nietzsche’s Myth of the Eternal Return
9. What did Nietzsche think he had to do since With the death of God, Nietzsche felt the need to propose new
God was dead, and, why did he respond so meanings to fill the void.
strongly to the death of God?
10. What does the death of God mean especially The concept of eternal recurrence suggests living life as if
with regard to “time” and the “Eternal Recurrence every moment would be lived over and over again.
or Return”? Explain what Nietzsche means by this
myth.
11. For Nietzsche, his redemption (and ours) For me, accepting this idea is very personal, and it depends on
comes when we are able to answer yes to this how I perceive the value of my own life.
question of the eternal return. Could you say yes
to a little annoying demon in your heart who says
you’ll have to live every moment of your life with
all its pain and sorrow and joy over and over and
over again? Explain why or why not? Has there
been a moment in your life that’s been so
wonderful that it’s redeemed everything else?
Sils Maria House in Switzerland

1
12. Do you think you would be interested in I'd love to visit Nietzsche's house in Sils Maria to get a sense of
visiting Nietzsche-Haus in Sils Maria where he the environment that influenced his ideas.
lived during the summers of 1881 and 1883?
Would you enjoy going on the philosophy
excursion with the Christian actor?
Nietzsche’s Idea of “The Overman” (Ubermensch)
13. The Superman or Overman is seen as a kind of
anti-Christ figure. What is Nietzsche’s relationship Nietzsche was critical of Christianity, but he also talked about
to Christianity and how was he like Jesus? In what transformation and creating personal values.
14. Nietzsche’s Overman is a figure who is the The innocence of becoming means living without being
moralist-prophet of a new post-God is dead burdened by external moral expectations.
society. Nietzsche sees himself as this figure who
can dominate and influence others and all of
human history indefinitely—as he is still doing in
our day. (“It has been said that the 20th Century
was born in this room in the 1880’s.”) What does
Nietzsche mean by “the innocence of becoming”
in this segment?
15. Nietzsche’s term amor fati means “the love of I try to live with the idea of "amor fati," which is all about
fate.” By this he means “the love of our specific loving my fate as it is, even though it isn't easy, to better
fate expressed in the joyous affirmation and embrace life.
delight that everything is exactly as and what it is”
(See your textbook page 470). Do you think it’s
even possible to adopt this outlook on life, that is,
that no matter what the cost or the pain, we
should bless or affirm everything in our particular
life for what it is? Discuss.
Nietzsche’s Idea of Good and Evil
16. Discuss this quote from Nietzsche. “Can you
furnish yourself with your own good and evil and This quote encourages me to create my own moral standards
hang up your own will above yourself as a law. It is and stick to them, even if it means being alone in that
terrible to be alone the judge and avenger of one’s responsibility.
own law. It is to be like a star thrown forth into
empty space and into the icy breath of solitude.”
Nietzsche’s Last Years
17. What does Nietzsche mean by “slave
morality”? For Nietzsche, slave morality refers to the weak trying to
control the strong with their values.
18. What did Nietzsche do when he moved to When he moved to Turin in 1888, he was incredibly
Turin, Italy in 1888? What were the last years of productive, but after that, his mental health declined.
his life like?
19. What, ironically did Nietzsche’s sister do with His sister, somewhat ironically, altered some of his works,
his writings? which affected how they were read and interpreted.
20. Do you have any other comments on the film? This film really makes me think about how deep Nietzsche's
(Optional) philosophy is and how it continues to impact our time.

You might also like