Posttraumatic Joy: A Seminar on Nietzsche's Tragicomic Philosophy of Life

Posttraumatic Joy explores Nietzsche's corpus from a continental and psychoanalytic perspective, tracing the genesis of fundamental psychoanalytic concepts to his understanding of morality, sublimation, and the movement from trauma to tragedy. It will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in psychology and philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 72 pages
Publication date: 24 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Posttraumatic Joy delves into the profound themes and ideas of Nietzsche's corpus, offering a continental and psychoanalytic lens to explore how they can shed light on coping with and transcending trauma and suffering. Presented through a series of transcribed and edited lectures originally delivered as part of the Nietzsche for Clinicians workshop at Boston College, this work traces the origins of fundamental psychoanalytic concepts such as repression, the death drive, and the Oedipus complex to the works of one of philosophy's most audacious and original thinkers. Instead of viewing Nietzsche as a traditional philosopher, this book approaches him as a proto-psychoanalyst, a precursor to Freud and Lacan, shedding light on his understanding of the origins of morality, the value of sublimation, the transition from mourning to melancholia, and the possibility of a life lived in affirmation and self-overcoming.

This interdisciplinary book appeals to scholars and practitioners whose work intersects with continental philosophy and theoretical and philosophical psychology. It includes psychotherapists, social workers, psychoanalysts, and pastoral counselors who are interested in delving into the deeply psychological philosophy of one of history's greatest thinkers. By exploring Nietzsche's insights, Posttraumatic Joy provides valuable perspectives for understanding the complexities of human experience and fostering resilience in the face of adversity.

Weight: 228g
Dimension: 142 x 224 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032391960