3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rare gem..., December 1, 2010
This review is from: Nietzsche's Zarathustra: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1934 - 1939 (2 Volume Set) (Hardcover)
This book is a rare gem: an in depth commentary on a major thinker by another major thinker. It just doesn't get any better than that.
This book is really two books in one. For anyone who is interested in understanding Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra this book is absolutely essential. It is an in depth, line by line, commentary. I have never seen another commentary on Nietzsche's Zarathustra that was this in depth and certainly none by anyone with the stature of Carl Jung. Zarathustra is not your average philosophy book. It is told in the form of a story and there is a great deal of symbolism involved. Jung is the perfect commentator for anyone looking to understand the symbolism of Nietzsche's work as well as the more explicit philosophical points. Unfortunately the Second World War interrupted these lectures so Jung does not make it all the way through Zarathustra but he gets most of the way and at 1600 + pages it is probably just about as much as anybody would want to read anyways.
This book is also (besides being an excellent commentary on Nietzsche) a really excellent summary of Jungian psychology. The students attending these lectures were Jungian analysts in training and Jung's goal in giving these lectures was not simply to provide a philosophical commentary on Nietzsche's philosophy but to demonstrate the methods of Jungian dream analysis by carrying out an analysis on an artistic/philosophical work. This should always be remembered when reading this book. Nietzsche was not the most direct writer and pretty much every great Nietzsche interpretation (Heidegger, Deleuze, etc.) winds up being as much about the interpreter's ideas as it is about Nietzsche. That is definitely true of this book although Jung's interpretations are extremely compelling and one often gets the feeling that Jung is closer to Nietzsche's own intended meaning in his interpretations than Heidegger or Deleuze (despite their obvious brilliance). Jung should definitely be read beside these other major Nietzsche commentators in order to get various perspectives on Nietzsche's often elusive writings (I should also point out that Jung is often very critical of Nietzsche and does have a tendency to reduce philosophical points Nietzsche is attempting to make to Nietzsche's disturbed psychology which is why the reader interested in Nietzsche should read other more philosophical commentaries along with this work). Even those who are not particularly interested in Nietzsche, but who have an interest in Jungian psychology, will benefit a great deal from reading this book as it is one of the clearest presentations of Jungian psychology around. It is often difficult to get a genuine feel for Jungian psychology and Jung's method of analysis from Jung's own works but in these lectures we see Jung in action, actually carrying out an analysis, albeit on a dead philosopher who he never actually met (although they were from the same town and Jung new some of the people who knew Nietzsche). This makes this book very valuable for those with an interest in Jungian psychology.
So this book is highly recommended! It is really a shame that this book is so expensive. It truly deserves a wider audience. If they can publish Heidegger's lecture series on Nietzsche (4 volumes) at an affordable price I don't see why they can't do the same with this book. Are you listening Bollingen?
-Brian
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7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jung expounds Nietzsche, December 28, 2007
This review is from: Nietzsche's Zarathustra: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1934 - 1939 (2 Volume Set) (Hardcover)
Here we have a case of the meeting of 2 profound intellects. Jung first read Nietzsche's Zarathustra when he was 25, not grasping all the inner meanings but sensing some dark mysteries were locked away in Nietzsche's greatest work. Now 35 years later Jung brings to us his careful study of the pinnacle of Nietzsche's thinking, Zarathustra.
Nietzsche was prophetic about the future breakdown in the germanic consciousness, but his narrative set in poetical, aphoric language goes further to shed light on modern man's predictiment in the 20/21st century. Truths, insights that Neitzsche paid for dearly later in his life as the collective unconscious devastated his mental stability.
The destructive side to the collective unconscious effects on Nietzsche are brought to light by Jung's profound exposition. These same affects from the unknown regions of the psyche are also taking its toll on modern man. All too frequently, pills are readily proscribed for all sorts of mental imbalances, uneasiness created by man's lack of recognition and flat out denial of the psyche.
If you have difficulity in understanding the analogies and metaphors in Nietzsche's Zarathustra, this 2 vol seminar will allow you to probe the mysterious language of Thus Spake Zarathustra.
The recent Notes to the seminar are only highlights and thus not recommended to those wishing to penetrate Nietzsche.
This the 2 vol set which took place in a private seminar over a course of 6 years.
EDIT Sept 28, 2011
Having a deep regard for all things Jung, lately I've been in a critical reading mode of the great doctor.
His child dream book and Religion and Psch, both I sold off.
Here, re-reading the 1st few pages, again I find myself in a asking-questions on every thing Jung wrote in this 2 vol set.
I would never ever had thought I could read Jung from a hyper critical POV,,Having struggled with Jung at the beginning, over 20 yrs ago.
Jung would not want it any other way.
Jung was for truth, even if it means seeing deeper, wider insights than he wrote.
Anyone care to meet with me and challenge my understanding of Jung, feel free.
Jung's studies are in need of relevant updates.
His religious studies are sadly beyond repair, as he does not understand the new testament, nor God's dealings with the jews.
EDIT Oct 29, 2011
I am very surprised not to see some anger among the Jungians of my opinion on Jung's ideas on religion. Jung has too much pagan studies which influence his ideas on God and His dealings with mankind.
Jung once said he'd rewrite all of his books erxcept Answer to Job,,thats the one I least like of Jung.
Here in his Nietz seminar, Jung tends to ramble at times, and other times he is wrong, his audience knows it, and he still doesw not back down and make admittance of his faulty thinking.
Jung had a proud spirit. But can we blame him,,eartly 20th century europe was a place of great danger and very cold hearted athiests all around him. Jung had to stand up for his ideas, and fight the good fight.
Now some 80 yrs later, I can see many of his errors, and I know Jung would be more than happy if I could bring new light into his ideas, and carry his torch.
EDIT: Nov 9,2011, WOW I just noticed, pub date 1988, only 2 reviews other than mine.
Makes me feel sort of unique in the sense of *many are called but only a very few are The Chosen*.
IOW not every can read this set and follow through.
One needs to know what to retain, what to critque,, what needs modification, clarification and lastly what needs to be excluded, thrown away/avoided like the plague.
The few of us who have read the seminar, and are familar with Jung for 20 yrs, and is over the ago of say 35 (over 40 more like it), we ought to call a meeting and discussion.
I would suggest the Mt Zion Utah Park as ideal location for such a event.
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