A remaining problem for my interpretation of Nietzsche's position on truth is its apparent incompatibility with two of his most important doctrines. As they are traditionally interpreted, the doctrines of will to power and eternal recurrence are metaphysical theories. According to my interpretation, Nietzsche rejects metaphysics. His denial of the thing-in-itself leaves no place into which a metaphysical theory could fit. My final two chapters interpret the doctrines of will to power and eternal recurrence so that they are fully compatible with this rejection of metaphysics.

The first section of this chapter gives reasons to interpret will to power as a metaphysical doctrine if it is supposed to be true. The remaining sections argue that Nietzsche's published works give us reason to deny that he regarded it as a truth.

Will to power as metaphysics

Most interpreters attribute to Nietzsche what I shall call the cosmological doctrine of will to power, the claim that the world, or at least the organic world, is will to power. The Nachlass provides ample evidence for doing so, including Nietzsche's answer to the question “Do you know what ‘the world’ is to me?”: “This world is the will to power – and nothing besides! And you yourselves are also this will to power – and nothing besides” (WP 1067).