'The Gift' in Nietzsche's Zarathustra - by Emilio Carlo Corriero (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Tracing the notion of 'the gift' in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Emilio Corriero provides a new interpretation of this essential text, alongside 'the gift's' evolution as a key concept in the history of western philosophy and Christianity.

The last phase of Nietzsche's thought, including his writings on the death of God, The Will to Power, the Overman, and eternal recurrence are analysed anew in Corriero's reading of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. From Nietzsche's Prologue, in which Zarathustra presents the idea of the Overman as a gift of love and wisdom, up to the fourth and final book, in which the theme of hospitality and sacrifice are inextricably linked to the concept of donation, highlighting the novelty and exceptionality of Zarathustra's gift. Building on these ideas, this book reveals how the gift of Zarathustra put forward by Nietzsche rethinks the relationships between individuals based on Christian doctrine, enabling new forms of coexistence and sociality to thrive.

Review Quotes

"Emilio Corriero offers an original reading of Nietzsche's masterpiece Thus Spoke Zarathustra that emphasizes the importance of generosity and the gift of wisdom. Subtle and provocative, but also thoughtful and systematic, Corriero shows how the wisdom of love and friendship is key to Nietzsche's remarkable text." --Richard White, Professor of Philosophy, Creighton University, USA

"How to think the gift beyond the obligation to reciprocate but without simply distinguishing between two types of 'gift', one of which would oblige exchange while the other would simply give without reserve, a Bataillean expenditure without end? Corriero answers the question by tracing the precise relation between Zarathustra's 'bestowing virtue' of overflowing wisdom and the Christian God's unstinting love for mankind. Only the true friend, who shares our eager anticipation of the Overman, is capable of receiving such a present." --Michael Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

About the Author