NIETZSCHE'S ANTI-DEMOCRATIC LIBERALISM

• Authors: Egyed Bela
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Since W. Kaufmann's attempt more than half a century ago (Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist, (N)1950) to rehabilitate Nietzsche as a progressive thinker there has been a lively debate about the relation between Nietzsche's philosophical and political positions. According to some, Nietzsche's 'reactionary politics' follows naturally from his doctrines of Will to Power and the Overman. (Bruce Detwiler argues for this position in: 'Nietzsche and the Politics of Aristocratic Radicalism' (D), 1990.) Others maintain that, properly interpreted, Nietzsche's philosophical views imply a progressive political position which Nietzsche could not arrive at because he was captive of a number of misguided assumptions. (Mark Warren in 'Nietzsche and Political Thought' (W), 1988; and William E. Connolly in 'Political Theory and Modernity' (C), 1988, take this position.) The author going to defend a version of W. Kaufmann's thesis that Nietzsche's teachings on the Overman and the Will to Power ought not to be interpreted in (traditional) political terms. However, in contrast to Kaufmann, the author argues that in his middle period Nietzsche does put forth a fairly coherent political position and, furthermore, author argues that his doctrine of Will to Power does have some political implications. In opposition to Kaufmann's critics, on the other hand, the author argues that Nietzsche's attacks in his final period, on what he calls 'herd morality', are compatible with constitutional liberalism.

Keywords

EN

KAUFMANN W.; LIBERALISM; NIETZSCHE F.

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Filozofia (Philosophy)
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 174-185
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Egyed Bela

• B. Egyed, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

08SKAAAA03837673