The Concept of Chaos

Nietzsche contra Heidegger on Early Greek Philosophy

a 5-session seminar with Hannes Schumacher

📅 5 Saturdays, weekly from September 12 to October 10, 2026
⏰ 13:00–15:00 Eastern Time Zone • 19:00–21:00 Central European Time. See time zone converter if you’re in a different location to make sure you get the time right.
🔗 A Zoom link will be provided on registration.
💰Three options (registration at bottom of this page):
(i) $100 for non-members (become a member).
(ii) $80 for members.
(iii) Solidarity (see below).

S e m i n a r d e s c r i p t i o n

Anaximander’s fragment has been interpreted in various different ways. The young Nietzsche reads in it a “pessimism” comparable to that of Schopenhauer, whereas Heidegger, in his 1946 lecture series “The Anaximander Fragment,” criticizes Nietzsche for projecting a moralistic sentiment onto the early Pre-Socratic. Anaximander’s fragment, argues Heidegger, is “neither pessimistic nor nihilistic; nor is it optimistic. It is tragic.”

Although Heidegger’s critique is probably correct, it is symptomatic of a more general critique against Nietzsche. In the chapter “The Concept of ‘Chaos’” in his great book on Nietzsche, Heidegger asserts that Nietzsche’s conception of chaos is far off from the “original Greek meaning” of a yawning abyss as found in Hesiod. Nietzsche, however, seems way more interested in the pluralistic “Anaxagorian chaos,” which he contrasts with the apeiron of Anaximander. Not to mention their shared interest in Heraclitus—could not Heidegger’s defense of Anaximander in the first place be a hint at his perennial critique of Nietzsche’s “modern” thinking? And could not Nietzsche’s preference for Anaxagoras point at a wholly different picture, where chaos can be freed of its “original Greek meaning”—quite ironically, already in the Pre-Socratics?

In this seminar, we turn to the Greek origins of the term ‘chaos,’ contrasting an “abyssal” with a more creative reading. No prior knowledge is required. All key texts will be provided on registration.

S e s s i o n b r e a k d o w n

Session 1: The Concept of Chaos: Heidegger contra Nietzsche. This introductory session will provide a close reading of Heidegger’s book chapter “The Concept of ‘Chaos’” along with some relevant fragments from Nietzsche’s Nachlass. We will then contrast Nietzsche’s views on chaos with selected passages from Hesiod’s Theogony.

Key texts:

Martin Heidegger, “The Concept of ‘Chaos’”, in Nietzsche (ed. Krell).
Friedrich Nietzsche, eKGWB/NF-1888,14[152] and eKGWB/NF-1887,9[106].
Hesiod, Theogony (trans. Caldwell), vv.16-20; 687-705; 717-721.

Session 2: Nietzsche and the early Pre-Socratics. In his Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks and his lectures on the “Pre-Platonics,” the young Nietzsche provides a pessimist reading of Anaximander which he relates to Thales and strategically contrasts with a more favorable reading of Heraclitus.

Key texts:

Friedrich Nietzsche, Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks (trans. Cowan), Sections 3-6.
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Pre-Platonic Philosophers (trans. Whitlock), “Thales,” “Anaximander,” “Heraclitus.”

Session 3: Anaximander’s Fragment. In this session, we’ll discuss several historical and contemporary translations of Anaximander’s sole surviving fragment. Most importantly, in his lecture series “The Anaximander Fragment,” Heidegger criticizes Nietzsche’s translation for projecting a moralism onto the fragment.

Key texts:

Anaximander DK 12A9 (trans. Diels, Kirk & Raven, etc.).
Martin Heidegger, “The Anaximander Fragment” (trans. Krell & Capuzzi).

Session 4: Anaxagoras’ Fragments. Unlike Anaximander’s sole surviving fragment, in the case of Anaxagoras we possess 23 extant fragments, a selection of which will be read and discussed throughout this session. The focus will be on the contrast between the initial chaotic mixture, on the one hand, and the separating nous, on the other.

Key texts:

Anaxagoras F1-F11 & F14-F-17 (trans. Graham).

Session 5: Anaxagorian Chaos: Nietzsche contra Heidegger. In this final lecture, we will first contrast Hegel’s and Nietzsche’s views on Anaxagoras to finally compare—via Nietzsche—Anaximander’s apeiron with “Anaxagorian chaos” (Nietzsche’s term). Based on this comparison, the group will then be able to discuss Nietzsche’s creative, pluralistic conception of chaos in harsh contrast to Heidegger’s “original,” abysmal conception.

Key texts:

G. W. F. Hegel, The Science of Logic 21.34 (trans. Giovanni).
Friedrich Nietzsche, Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks (trans. Cowan), Sections 15-16.
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Pre-Platonic Philosophers (trans. Whitlock), “Anaxagoras.”

F a c i l i t a t o r

Having lived and studied all around the world, Hannes Schumacher works at the threshold between philosophy and art. He has carried out intensive research on Hegel and Deleuze, and he has also published widely on Nishida, Nāgārjuna, chaos theory, global mysticism, and contemporary art. Hannes is the founder of the Berlin-based publisher Freigeist Verlag, co-founder of the grassroots art space Chaosmos ∞ in Athens, Greece, and he collaborates extensively with the literary translator Peter Constantine and World Poetry Books, New York. He has facilitated the following courses and groups at Incite Seminars: “Nishida Kitarō: The Logic of Place and the Religious Worldview”; “Who’s Afraid of Hegel: Introduction to G. W. F. Hegel’s Science of Logic”; “Chaos Research Group”; “Reading After Finitude by Quentin Meillassoux”; “Deleuze & Guattari: What is Philosophy?”; “Plato’s chôra through the lens of Derrida”; “Anarchia and Archai: Reimagining the Pre-Socratics” (with Carlos A. Segovia); “Reading Nietzsche’s Zarathustra” (current); “Liana of the Resurrected”; “The Body without Organs”; and “Introduction to Chaos Theory.”

R e g i s t r a t i o n

Non-Members (become a member)

Members

Solidarity: We are happy to make our offerings available at reduced or no-cost if you can not otherwise join. In exchange, we would like you to get involved at Incite Seminars by promoting this seminar on your blog, website or social media. Depending on your needs and time commitment, we can propose to you one of the following options:

(a) one post after the seminar ($75)
(b) one post during the seminar ($50)
(c) one post before (one week prior) and one after the seminar ($25)
(d) one post before (one week prior), one during, and one after the seminar ($0)

If you would like to request one of these options, please email us at inciteseminarsphila@gmail.com with the following information: (1) seminar of interest; (2) reason for requesting a solidarity ticket; (3) the option you choose. Please note that for options (c) and (d) we ask you to get in touch at least one week prior to the beginning of the seminar.

Thank you.