This week I’m excited to share a conversation I had with Daniel Tutt, a Marxist and psychoanalytic theorist, and also a professor of philosophy at George Washington University, about his recently published book How to Read like a Parasite: How the Left got High on Nietzsche.
His book provides a much needed intervention in Nietzsche studies by rigorously insisting on reading Nietzsche in his political context as an enemy of the socialist and Marxist movements for equality in his time. Daniel also helped me work through some questions I had related to Marxism and egalitarianism. What especially stood out to me was the way in which access to active leisure posed a key battleground for both Nietzsche and Marx.
You can purchase Tutt’s new book here (affiliate link), as well as check out how to support him and his work over at his Patreon. I’m personally a subscriber at Daniel’s Patreon, and I benefit from his interviews with prominent thinkers in Marxism, psychoanalysis, and more.
Books recommended by Daniel near the end of the podcast:
Nietzsche's Political Economy by Dimitri Safronov
Deconstructing Postmodernist Nietzscheanism: Deleuze and Foucault by Jan Rehmann (affiliate link)
As always, don’t forget to subscribe to Samsara Audio to get new episodes directly in your inbox, and you can also follow my free monthly newsletter on religion, philosophy, and psychoanalysis at Samsara Diagnostics. Thanks!
Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:50 Introducing Daniel Tutt
02:10 Exploring Nietzsche's Relationship with the Left
03:23 Daniel Tutt's Personal Journey with Nietzsche
04:42 Nietzsche's Influence on Young Intellectuals
06:26 Nietzsche's Political Context and Opposition to Equality Movements
09:12 The Role of Nietzsche in Modern Society
12:49 The Problem with Rights Framework
15:01 The Struggle for Equality and Freedom in Nietzsche's Philosophy
18:35 The Role of Nietzsche in the Formation of Modern Society
34:45 The Problem of Egalitarianism and Excellence
45:57 Revisiting Aristotle and Marx: The Question of Leisure
46:26 The Role of Leisure in Socialism and Liberalism
47:09 The Impact of Capitalism on Social Class and Marriage
48:24 Nietzsche's Views on Tradition and Hierarchy
49:25 The Cultural Impact of Capitalism and the Importance of Leisure
50:24 Nietzsche's Opposition to the American Revolution's Promise of Happiness
52:04 The Practical Implications of Capitalism and the Need for Change
53:56 The Role of Nietzsche in Understanding Political Myths
55:02 The American Dream: A Myth or a Possibility?
56:37 The Struggle for Stability and Human Flourishing in a Capitalist Society
57:59 The Oppressive Norms of Capitalism and the Need for Change
01:01:34 The Role of Nietzsche in Understanding and Overcoming Resentment
01:06:18 The Influence of Nietzsche on Various Communities
01:09:06 The Importance of Active Leisure in a Communist Society
01:14:18 The Need for Rationality and Expression in Politics
01:17:51 Closing Remarks and Future Projects
01:19:18 The Intersection of Freud and Marx in Understanding Society
