Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations and translations
- 1 The Hegel–Nietzsche debate
- 2 Nietzsche's view of Hegel
- 3 Nietzsche and metaphysics
- 4 Hegel and metaphysics
- 5 Speculative thought and language in Hegel's philosophy
- 6 Hegel's conception of the judgement
- 7 Context and the immanence of rationality in Hegel's Phenomenology
- 8 Hegel and Nietzsche on tragedy
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
3 - Nietzsche and metaphysics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations and translations
- 1 The Hegel–Nietzsche debate
- 2 Nietzsche's view of Hegel
- 3 Nietzsche and metaphysics
- 4 Hegel and metaphysics
- 5 Speculative thought and language in Hegel's philosophy
- 6 Hegel's conception of the judgement
- 7 Context and the immanence of rationality in Hegel's Phenomenology
- 8 Hegel and Nietzsche on tragedy
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Nietzsche's critique of metaphysics
In this chapter we will examine what Nietzsche means by metaphysics, what his alternative to metaphysics entails and, finally, why I believe that alternative itself rests on foundations which, in Nietzsche's own terms, may be characterised as metaphysical. I should add that it is not my intention to address the problem of the historical accuracy of Nietzsche's view of metaphysics. What I am concerned with is the phenomenon which, after 1876, Nietzsche himself describes as metaphysics and how he proposes to criticise it. Nor do I consider the chronological development of Nietzsche's views on metaphysics or of his philosophy as a whole during his ‘mature’ period. I do not deny that Nietzsche's views on many matters, as well as his manner of expression, undergo obvious development and change throughout the 1880s, but I share Karl Schlechta's opinion that, for all the variety of formulation and detailed insight in Nietzsche's writings, there is overall a remarkable monotony in the statement of his philosophical position. Despite the unsystematic twists and turns of his mature philosophy, therefore, Nietzsche's fundamental belief in the divorce between language and life and in the primacy of selfishness in human motivation remains in my view unchallenged.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Hegel, Nietzsche and the Criticism of Metaphysics , pp. 38 - 95Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1986