From aestheticism to naturalism: a reassessment of Nietzsche's 'postmodernist' philosophy of history.
Date
2012-08-22
Authors
Johnston, Joshua Travis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Since the 1960’s it has been common for many historians to treat Friedrich
Nietzsche as a proto-postmodernist. Nietzsche’s scepticism and apparent embrace of
aestheticism have fueled the belief among historians that Nietzsche’s philosophy
anticipated a postmodern understanding of history. This project seeks to challenge the
proto-postmodernist reading of Nietzsche’s philosophy of history by arguing that
Nietzsche’s thought underwent a significant change after the termination of his friendship
with the German composer Richard Wagner. Utilizing Nietzsche’s personal
correspondence, material from his many notebooks, records of the books he read and
owned, as well as the works he published, this thesis attempts to unravel the protopostmodern
reading of Nietzsche’s philosophy in favour of a naturalist interpretation of
his thought. It will then attempt to outline what the consequences of Nietzsche’s
naturalism are for his philosophy of history.
Description
Keywords
Nietzsche, Philosophy of History, Historiography