Nietzsche and Eternal Recurrence

“McNeil succeeds in giving to eternal recurrence the pivotal place in Nietzsche’s philosophy that it had for Nietzsche himself.”

– David E. Cooper, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Durham University, UK. 

“McNeil throws fresh light on what is arguably Nietzsche’s most controversial doctrine, using Heidegger’s interpretation as an investigative tool to bring exciting new insights to bear on our understanding of this doctrine.”

– Paul Bishop, William Jacks Chair in Modern Languages and Professor of German, University of Glasgow, UK.

“…a wide-ranging and well-informed guide to Nietzsche’s most challenging doctrine. […] Students of Nietzsche’s thought will welcome the book’s survey of recent debates over the concept of eternal recurrence.”

–Robin Small, Professor of Philosophy of Education Emeritus, University of Auckland, New Zealand 

This book examines the cogency and value of Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence, as an antidote to the nihilism resulting from the catastrophic event of ‘the death of God’. Its significance to Nietzsche’s philosophy as a whole (when presented either as an imaginative thought experiment, a cosmological hypothesis, or a poetic metaphor) is analysed, alongside the manifold criticisms the idea has attracted.
In this original reading of eternal recurrence, McNeil explores the strength of metaphorical meaning contained within Heraclitean and Stoic cosmologies, revealing their influence on Nietzsche’s own cosmology, along with their holistic approach to life which Nietzsche endorsed.  Furthermore, an extensive critique of Heidegger’s interpretation of eternal recurrence is given. McNeil argues that Heidegger ignores not only the life-affirming Dionysian aspects of the concept, but also the Heraclitean sense of play evident in the cosmology, and the importance of this for developing a positive, celebratory attitude towards our lives and creative projects.

Bevis E. McNeil is Senior Lecturer in Criminological and Forensic Psychology at Leeds Beckett University, and was formerly Tutor and Lecturer in Philosophy at Durham University, UK. He has taught extensively on Nietzsche, the idea of eternal recurrence, and Stoic philosophy and cosmology.