Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-wtssw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-08T09:47:26.030Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 3 - Nietzsche as Metaphilosopher

from Part I - Evolving Metaphilosophies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2019

Paul S. Loeb
Affiliation:
University of Puget Sound, Washington
Matthew Meyer
Affiliation:
University of Scranton
Get access

Summary

In this chapter, I first examine two metaphors – the astral and the entomological – that extend through Nietzsche’s entire corpus to track the development of certain key themes in Nietzsche’s metaphilosophical reflections as they evolved from the early days of his professorship at Basel up to the mature writings of 1886 and 1887. By then, I argue, Nietzsche’s metaphilosophical meditations had crystallized around his critique of the so-called will to truth. I then argue that key to this critique is Nietzsche’s conviction that philosophical “knowledge” is not just different in kind to the type of knowledge produced by scholars and scientists, but that the two have contrary properties. Finally, I make use of these results to mount a Nietzschean metaphilosophical critique of the now prominent analytical reception of Nietzsche. A sizable share of contemporary English-language philosophical work on Nietzsche, I argue, is not just metaphilosophically discontinuous with Nietzsche’s understanding of and approach to philosophy, but expressive of deep-set resistance to precisely those transformations in philosophy that Nietzsche sought to bring about as an engaged metaphilosopher.

Type
Chapter
Information
Nietzsche's Metaphilosophy
The Nature, Method, and Aims of Philosophy
, pp. 42 - 62
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×