Nietzsche's Philosophy: Eternal Return and the Crisis of Nihilism

Nietzsche's Theory of Eternal Recurrence

The theory of eternal recurrence posits that life invariably repeats itself again and again. The Übermensch (Superman) accepts life as it is, loving and living it as if one desired its eternal repetition.

The idea of a reality that is repeated again and again as a circle is totally opposed to the linear conception of reality. If time is infinitely regressive, then anything that can happen has already happened. Therefore, what has not happened yet is not new, as it has occurred in the past. This concept, where the cycle has elapsed and time would repeat itself in the future, is the foundation from which Nietzsche creates his theory of eternal recurrence.

Understanding Nihilism

Nihilism is a consequence of the Death of God. The individual loses faith in eternal and immutable values. There are several paths leading to nihilism:

• The realization that the belief that all historical periods meet a particular purpose is uncertain.
• The feeling of being thrown into this world, without knowing where we came from or where we are going.

By losing respect for the transcendent (the beyond), the modern individual falls into despair.

The Four Stages of Passive Nihilism

Humanity, subjected to passive nihilism, goes through four distinct stages:

1. Awareness and Maintenance: The individual becomes aware of the destruction of metaphysics, religion, and morality, yet makes every effort to maintain and revitalize those creative values that are already collapsing.
2. Incompatibility: The human being acquires the values of the new world and realizes that they are incompatible with the preceding values.
3. Self-Contempt: The human being begins to despise himself, leading to deep pain, self-pity, and self-hatred. Individuals come to desire their own destruction.
4. The Final Phase (Destruction): This radical transformation leads to the final phase of destruction, which imposes a new creed: the eternal return.

According to Nietzsche, after the transmutation of all values, what remains is the moral triumph of the victor and the power of decision.