Notes on Introduction to Philosophy -- Phil A201

William Jamison - Instructor

Lecture 15

Fifteenth lecture notes for Introduction to Philosophy:

Slide 1:

Friedrich Nietzsche 1844-1900

born in Röcken, Prussia.

father a Lutheran minister, died when Nietzsche was five, and he was raised by his mother, grandmother, two aunts, with his sister.

studied classical philology at Bonn and Leipzig.

appointed professor of classical philology at the University of Basel at the age of 24.

plagued throughout his life by poor eyesight and migraine headaches - retirement in 1879

suffered a mental breakdown 1889

Slide 2:

Nietzsche

Influences on him were:

Greek culture, particularly the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle,

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer,

theory of evolution,

friendship with Richard Wagner.

Christianity represents a "slave morality," a morality created by weak and resentful individuals who encourage such behavior as gentleness and kindness because it serves their interests.

Slide 3:

Nietzsche

Will to power

self-control, art, philosophy

master the passions and employ them creatively

Superman (Overman)

this worldly antithesis to God

Darwin like evolution to a next race?

must overcome ourselves and become creators

cease being human, all too human

God is Dead

we have killed him -- I have come too soon

Slide 4:

Nietzsche

Eternal recurrence

not scientific

Genealogy

studies evolution of culture

applies Darwin to social evolution

Dionysian versus Apollinian

Schopenhauer's "Will and Representation"

Will to power enables one to overcome one's genealogy, comfort (church), chaos of passions

Understanding Nietzsche

On Lincoln: http://greenandgold.uaa.alaska.edu/podcasts/index.php?id=583

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