For Brian Leiter

Attention Nietzsche scholars. America's Finest News Source™ discloses New Nietzschean Diet Lets You Eat Whatever You Fear Most. [Link updated thanks to Hugh Hyatt]

First formulated by Nietzsche, who felt lassitude and weltschmerz overcome him after a steady diet of Schopenhauer, the diet retains elements of that philosopher's “The Fruit Bowl As Will And Representation,” but adds a persuasive personal challenge.

“The basics of the Nietzschean regimen are simple,” Hollingdale wrote in the book's foreword. “The dieter exercises a painful amount of self-honesty in order to identify the primary object of his or her deepest human dread as personified by a wide-ranging group of foodstuffs. Once the dieter's Fear has been identified, he eats that food exclusively, in unlimited amounts, until the food no longer appetizes or frightens him. Having completed his gorge and transcended his fear, the dieter fasts for 20 days on water and Simple Salad.

Many Nietzschean dieters are reporting success, although some complain of side effects.

Kansas City's John Mencken started the diet in January. He lost 35 pounds, eight inches from his waistline, and many of his slave moralities. …

The Nietzschean diet has its critics. Detractors say the diet's actual nutritional requirements are vague, that it provides no concrete plan for progression toward weight-loss targets, and that the book consists mostly of unclear and unusually harsh sets of inspirational logical lacunae.

“Those on Nietzsche's diet must remember that, while discipline and mastering one's fear are desirable, the specter of a man striving willfully and joyfully against a frigid universe while drinking deep of 'life's bitter broth' will not precipitate weight loss,” nutritionist Dr. Frank Stearns said. “A few more non-allegorical recipes would have been nice, too.”

(Spotted via John & Belle Have a Blog)

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One Response to For Brian Leiter

  1. Hugh Hyatt says:

    Here is another link to the Nietzsche story.

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