[BEST OF] Aristocratic Radicalism: Nietzsche and the Politics of Reaction

Revolutionary Left Radio

Breht O'Shea

Communism, Politics, Liberalism, Society & Culture, Philosophy, News, History, Leftwing, Socialism, Marxism

4.8 • 3.4K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2025

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Apr 3, 2023

Professor Matt McManus returns to Rev Left to discuss his latest book, Nietzsche and the Politics of Reaction: Essays on Liberalism, Socialism, and Aristocratic Radicalism—a provocative collection he edited featuring diverse perspectives on one of the most misunderstood thinkers in modern philosophy. We unpack Friedrich Nietzsche’s actual political views, challenge the liberal and fascist misreadings, and explore what the socialist left can critically learn from him. From his attacks on Christianity and herd morality to his complex relationship with nihilism, the death of God, and radical subjectivity—we dive deep into Nietzsche’s legacy and wrestle with how the left can engage him without falling into reactionary traps. A rigorous and fascinating conversation for those who want to sharpen their understanding of western philosophy and break free from lazy and shallow interpretations.

Check out more of McManus' work HERE

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everybody and welcome back to Rev Left Radio.
0:08.9	On today's episode, I have another wonderful episode for you.
0:11.8	Really excited to share this one.
0:13.5	This is with Professor Matt McManus and his new collection of essays entitled Nietzsche and the Politics of Re reaction essays on liberalism, socialism, and aristocratic radicalism.
0:25.4	Really interesting deep dive on Nietzsche as a fundamentally reactionary thinker.
0:30.9	We talk about how even though he is a reactionary thinker, many right-wing forces who try to appropriate him, get him fundamentally
0:37.9	wrong, from the Nazis to Jordan Peterson and Denis D'Souza.
0:41.8	We talk about how the left has tried to use him to various levels of success and failure.
0:48.6	And we just talk about Nietzsche's criticisms of Christianity, how they dovetail with his
0:52.9	criticisms of liberal democracy and socialism andvetail with his criticism to liberal democracy
0:54.4	and socialism and communism, you know, the death of God and his predictions for the forms
1:00.8	that nihilism will take. And it's just a very interesting, fascinating conversation about
1:06.6	a fascinating figure and really focusing on his actual politics and how they cash out in real life.
1:13.2	I couldn't ask for a better guest either.
1:15.0	We have a really, really fun, engaging conversation.
1:18.4	So without further ado, here is our episode with Matt McManus on his new book about Nietzsche
1:24.1	as a fundamentally reactionary political thinker.
1:27.4	Enjoy.
1:27.8	My name is Matt McManus. I'm a lecturer at the University of Michigan in the Department
1:43.6	of Political Science. And I'm the author of a couple of different books. The one we're here to talk about
1:48.0	today is a collection I edited called Nietzsche and the Politics of Reaction. And if people
1:52.9	are interested in that, you can also check out my new book, The Political Right and Equality,
	...

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