Alexandra Artiles
2/23/15
HUM1533 TR 11:00
Word Count 1181
Applied Philosophy Paper: Nietzsche and the Dying Cancer Patient
Throughout this paper, I will be applying the religious philosophies of Nietzsche in order to
evaluate the meaning of the dying cancer patient’s life. Additionally, I will argue that with or
without accepting God’s existence, the patient can rest assured that she lead a meaningful life. Of
course, the widespread array of Nietzsche’s theories along with the versatility of the patient’s life
cannot be fully accounted for; thus, I will be looking at two specific components of Nietzsche’s
philosophies and struggles of the patient’s life that caused her to challenge her believe in God
and the meaning of her life. This examination is vital because her faith in God, based on the
passage, was the core of her being; she is a lifelong believer who will feel as if her life was
wasted if God is not real.
Nietzsche’s concepts of eternal reoccurrence and atheistic existentialism will be deeply
explored to contribute to examining the meaning of the patient’s life. Specifically, I will
argue that the cancer patient is implanting herself in her background beliefs rather than critically
evaluating the existence of God because she is afraid that her life has proven to be meaningless.
I will do so by emphasizing her lack of examining the views of, or similar to, those of Nietzsche.
In order to apply theories to the significance of the cancer patient’s life, one must retain a
basic foundation of their meanings. Nietzsche’s eternal reoccurrence is a concept that many do
not visit, but perhaps should, while trying to connect the significance of their life to religious
ideology. It requires one to ask themselves if they would be happy, miserable, or somewhere in
between upon finding out that their life will be recurring for eternity. The vital part of this
concept that many may overlook is that every little aspect of life will replay itself, including
every pain, tear, and trivial thought (Nietzsche 49). In order to fully grasp eternal reoccurrence, it
is important to acknowledge the details it comes with; failure of doing so may result in someone
briefly examining their life and summing it up in a few words rather than truly evaluating what it
