Williams, Nietzsche, and the meaninglessness of immortality

In this essay I consider the argument that Bernard Williams advances in 'The Makropolus Case' for the meaninglessnss of immortality. I also consider various counter-arguments. I suggest that the more clearly these counter-arguments are targeted at the spirit of Williams's argument, rather than at its letter, the less clearly they pose a threat to it. I then turn to Nietzsche, whose views about the eternal recurrence might appear to make him an opponent of Williams. I argue that, properly interpreted, these views in fact make him an ally.The full-text of this article is not currently available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page