Lecture on Arrival and Nietzsche's Eternal Recurrence

Introduction

Film: Arrival (2016), directed by Denis Villeneuve
Source: Based on Ted Chiang’s novella “Story of Your Life”
Themes: Philosophical questions, time, language
Comparison: Links to the philosophical concept of ‘eternal recurrence’ by Friedrich Nietzsche

Concept: Explores what it means to will every moment of life
Misunderstandings: Not a proto-scientific account but a hypothetical question
Key Passage: Nietzsche’s The Joyous Science, section 341
- Scenario: A demon tells you to live your life repeatedly
- Question: Would you embrace it or curse it?
Purpose: Examine one's will and psychological orientation
**Categories of Existence: **
1. Undesirable existence: Not wanting to relive even once
2. Desirable existence: Willing to live same life repeatedly
Philosophical Goal: Strive for actions that align with the second category

Key Character: Louise Banks (Amy Adams)
Plot: Linguist decodes alien language, gains extra-temporal understanding
Linguistic Theory: Linguistic relativity (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis)
- Consequence: Thinking in the alien language transcends time
Parallels with Eternal Recurrence:
- Louise's Experience: Sees future joys and sufferings
- Choice: Embraces life events despite knowing their outcomes
Symbolism: Choice to accept both highs and lows in life

Implied Determinism: Louise’s knowledge may indicate lack of free will
- Contradicting Scenes: General Shang's meeting, the book she has yet to write
- Decision: Might be more about disposition than action

Possibility of Illusion: Actual recurrence may be logically impossible
- Example: Three wheels with different rotations never realign
Value of Hypotheticals: Provide frameworks for evaluating life
- Aim: Will every experience actively and enthusiastically

Arrival’s Question: If you could see your whole life, would you change things?
Philosophical Exercise: Mere possibility of eternal recurrence helps evaluate life choices