Internet History Sourcebooks

Science and philosophy have replaced religion as mainstream ‘belief systems’ of modernity; religion, based on an outdated and untranslated mythology, cannot hope to compete with modern systems of knowing; Christian religion has been based on the authority of tradition, and modern people do not care for tradition. Religion can only mean something ag

answers that might save his sanity and his soul. What predicament could be more “modern” than this? Who among us is not looking for ways to alleviate the fear of death, to deal with pain, and to cope with anxiety and grief? Who among us has not wondered if virtue was truly necessary for living a happy life?

the mental condition of the modern world. I mean the condition in which all natural explanations have broken down and no supernatural explanation has been established.

It seems to me, for reasons I will later outline, the only way to properly pose and answer this question in a modern context is through Heidegger’s engagement with Nietzsche, since this engagement, in particular, seeks to think through and combat the metaphysics of modernity by using Nietzsche as its representative.