Nietzsche, life as literature by nehamas, alexander, 1946publication date 1985 topics nietzsche, friedrich wilhelm, 18441900. He works on greek philosophy, aesthetics, nietzsche, foucault, and literary theory. Philosophical essays 1994 and the author, with paul woodruff, of a translation and commentary on platos phaedrus 1995 and symposium 1989. Life as literature alexander nehamas argues that nietzsche tried to create a specific literary character in his writings and discusses the paradoxes of his work. Carpenter ii class of 1943 professor in the humanities, professor of philosophy, and professor of comparative literature at princeton university. The papers are unified in theme by the idea that platos central philosophical concern in metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics was to distinguish the authentic from the fake, the original from its imitations. I dont think you know what it is like to get involved in a discussion with socrates.
When walter kaufmann wrote it in the immediate aftermath of world war ii, most scholars outside germany viewed nietzsche as. This account scarcely begins to suggest the subtlety and rigor of nehamas s interpretation. Focusing on three texts on the subject of human identity, the counterlife 1987, deception 1990, and. Walter kaufmann, alexander nehamas this classic is the benchmark against which all modern books about nietzsche are measured.
Nehamas approaches nietzsche from a background of existential concerns, and an effort originally. The problems with this reading of nietzsche which are, i think. Nietzsche s nietzsche is like platos socrates, a supremely influential figure who is also a fictional creation only in nietzsche s case, selfconsciously so. Robert pippin 2014 journal of nietzsche studies 45 2. Life as literature cambridge, mass harvard university press, 1985, a book which, accordingly, gives only cursory attention to nietzsche s moral philosophy. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Alexander nehamas provides the best possible guide for the perplexed. Alexander nehamas argues at a level of sophistication and provides a density of content which are very rare in this field. Carpenter ii class of 1943 professor in the humanities. Nietzsche s aestheticist turn, in alexander nehamas s ingenious exposition, is twofold. Socratic reflections from plato to foucault, virtues of.
He works on greek philosophy, aesthetics, friedrich nietzsche, michel foucault, and literary theory. In fact, nehamas goes so far as to contend that, nietzsche may be read as trying, consciously to fashion a literary character out of himself, and a literary wo rk out of his life nehamas 1985, 7. Nietzsche alexander nehamas pdf life as literature by. He reveals the single thread running through nietzsches views. Nehamas, alexander, 1946 nietzsche, life as literature. Note to the reader chronology of nietzsches life and works introduction robert pippin. This is the best and most important book on nietzsche in english. He was educated at swarthmore college and at princeton, where he received his ph. Nehamas nietzsche, this process is accompl ished in preci sely the same manner as an author forms a character in literature. Topics nietzsche, friedrich wilhelm, 18441900 publisher cambridge, mass. He flatly asserts that nietzsche rejected selfknowledge as socrates understood it because nietzsche denies that in socrates sense there is either a self that can be known or a knowledge that can capture it nehamas, nietzsche. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Philosophical essays 1994 and the author, with paul woodruff, of a translation and commentary on platos. I concentrate on his basic claim that nietzsches model for the world, for objects, and for people turns out to be the literary text and its components.
Chelsea house, 1987 14c reprinted in richard white ed. Alexander nehamas was born in athens, graduated from athens college, and attended swarthmore college and princeton university, where he is currently professor in the humanities, philosophy, and comparative literature. Secondly, he was preoccupied by creating, through the medium of his texts, a specific personality, which as nehamas contends, was nietzsche himself. Secondly, he was preoccupied by creating, through the medium of his texts, a specific personality, which as nehamas contends, was nietzsche. Research shows that staying in a mental stimulus can slow or even eliminate. Nietzsche is an author, a public figure, and all his writings are relevant to his interpretation. First, consider two of spinozas claims about the minds knowledge of itself and its body.
Library of congress cataloging in publication data. Mar 02, 20 alexander nehamas of princeton speaks at the narrative selves session for the narrative self, lyric self, absent self. In this article, i discuss the legacy of alexander nehamas s 1985 book, nietzsche. Read nietzsche pdf life as literature by alexander nehamas harvard university press more than eighty years after his death, nietzsche s writings and his career remain disquieting, disturbing. For derrida the absence of authoritative interpretations calls for a questioning of all being as an ethical and political task of openness to the alterity that is excluded in every authoritative determination. Selfinterpreting selves comments on alexander nehamas s nietzsche. A collection of essays london methuen 1978 richardson, john nietzsche s new darwinism oxford university press 2004. Alexander nehamas department of philosophy 692 pretty brook road.
The importance we attach to any part of his work cannot depend on general principles about which is essentially primary and which necessarily follows. The eminent philosopher and classical scholar alexander nehamas presents here a collection of his most important essays on plato and socrates. Alexander nehamas born 22 march 1946 in athens, greece is professor of philosophy and edmund n. He effected this synthesis primarily through the introduction of a novel interpretive rubric. Carpenter ii class of 1943 professor of humanities at princeton university, where he is also professor of philosophy, professor of comparative literature, director of hellenic studies, and head of the council of humanities. C,t1114 1 ty life as literature alexander nehamas flietz. He reveals the single thread running through nietzsche s views. Reprinted, in the form in which it appears in nietzsche. Life as literature revisited this article reappraises some aspects of alexander nehamas s nietzsche. Alexander nehamas argues at a level of sophistication. This chapter considers the accusation made by some proponents of the ethical turn, such as gerald graff and martha nussbaum, that only a form of virtue ethics can give access to a truly humanistic way of evaluating the good life, and that the alternative is the banality of relativism.
In this wideranging, brilliantly written account, nehamas provides an incisive reevaluation of socrates place in the western philosophical tradition and shows the importance of socrates for montaigne, nietzsche, and foucault. Life as literature by alexander nehamas 262 ratings, 4. Carpenter ii class of 1943 professor in the humanities and professor of philosophy and comparative literature at princeton university. Reading the art of living can increase mental stimulation.
Life as a literature offers an elegant synthesis of themes from other then au courant readings of nietzsche by jacques derrida, sarah kofman, paul deman, and richard rorty. According to leiter, nietzsche thinks that his life is fated because there are essential natural facts about him that significantly circumscribe the range of trajectories he can realize leiter, according to pippin, nietzsche thinks that his life is fated. Nehamas, alexander nietzsche, life as literature cambridge, mass harvard university press 1985 pasley, malcolm nietzsche, imagery and thought. Life as literature is about as good as academic philosophy gets. I concentrate on his basic claim that nietzsche s model for the world, for objects, and for people turns out to be the literary text and its components. Pdf nietzsche ecce homo summary and notes shaun gamboa. Writings from the early notebooks alexander nehamas. Alexander nehamas was born in athens, graduated from athens college, and attended swarthmore college and princeton university, where he is currently edmund carpenter professor in the humanities, professor of philosophy and comparative literature.
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