PHIL 762 Nietzsche Professor Acampora Office: 7110 Class meets: Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m.

in 7395 Office Hour: Tuesdays 11:30-12:30 and by appointment

Spring 2010

Course Description The course will focus on a specific group of Nietzsche's works that are typically taken to mark a turning point toward his "mature writings": from The Gay Science to (or through) On the Genealogy of Morality. Nietzsche's views on truth, science, and philosophy are often regarded as changing significantly during this period even though Nietzsche himself appeared to regard his later works as the culmination, clarification, and extension of his earlier writings. Recent scholarly literature has focused intensively on Nietzsche's "mature views" of naturalism, freedom, will, and consciousness. We'll scrutinize this work and endeavor to identify several key areas of contemporary philosophy where Nietzsche's work is particularly relevant. Thus, we have roughly three main lines of thought were pursuing during the course of the semester: 1) Does the period in question really constitute significant change in Nietzsches views? While an informed view does turn on familiarity with earlier and later writings, students should be able to gauge whether the group of assigned texts show marked changes in thought, for example, about truth (as Clark maintains). We will read articles and book chapters that assemble evidence for and against this view, and we will endeavor to firm up our own ideas. 2) What do the works in question suggest about Nietzsches views about naturalism, freedom, will, and consciousness? To some extent, these questions are unfair, or possibly entirely misplaced. For example, Nietzsche most certainly does not have views about naturalism. It is not merely anachronistic to inquire about it; Nietzsche seems to have not cared about this sort of question at all. Similar things could be said, albeit to a lesser extent, about his views on freedom, will, and consciousness. Thus, we will want to consider merits of projects oriented around reconstructing (or simply constructing) such views from Nietzsches works. A reason why these endeavors might be valuable is because they could be clarifying of certain contemporary questions and concerns. 3) Nietzsches views are regarded also as contributing to certain areas of contemporary philosophy, and we shall briefly explore these (e.g., experimental philosophy [x-phil] philosophy of mind, and value theory). Books The Gay Science, Kaufmann trans. Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Kaufmann trans. Beyond Good and Evil, Kaufamann trans. On the Genealogy of Morality, Clark and Swensen trans. (Hackett)

Assignments and Values Listed below are the assignments for the course and their contributions to the final grade: Regular, productive, relevant, and informed class discussion (25%) One short seminar presentation (5-7 pages) (15%) Final seminar research paper (18-25 pages)* (60%) *A professional book review of publishable quality may be substituted for the seminar paper, although it is recommended that most students complete the research paper. Objectives and Outcomes We can be clearer about our goals than just learn more about Nietzsche. Specifically, my goals for the class include both enhancing your understanding of Nietzsche and supporting your development as a graduate student and philosopher. Thus, the objectives are: 1. Acquire well-supported views about the development of Nietzsches philosophy throughout the works assigned and discussed. This is a goal we will pursue continuously throughout the semester. Well check to see that youre making progress each week in class discussion, and Ill expect evidence in the assigned papers. 2. Gain familiarity with the professional scholarly literature. I will test our progress through weekly discussion. Seminar presentations should show some evidence of meeting this goal, and the research paper should show ample evidence of awareness and comprehension of the current literature on your chosen topic. 3. Apply knowledge of Nietzsche to other areas of philosophical inquiry. I will expect this to occur in class discussion with increasing regularity as you become more familiar with Nietzsche, and particularly later in the semester when we will explicitly and directly take up this goal. While seminar presentations need not have this particular focus, the final research paper should include such reflections or argue the case for why it is irrelevant. 4. Practice discussion and modes of presentation that approximate forms professional philosophy takes, including critically engaging peers, delivering conference papers (seminar papers a miniature versions), and discussing research interests during office hours. 5. Practice the development of a viable research project (seminar paper), including selecting a sustainable, manageable, and appropriate topic, engaging the critical literature, and mounting a reasonable argument or collecting sufficient and relevant evidence.

Schedule Week 1 (2/2): Introductions, themes, mechanics Week 2 (2/9): The periodization issue and The Gay Science, I-III Week 3 (2/16): The Gay Science, Book IV Week 4 (2/23): Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Books I-II Week 5 (3/2): Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Books III-IV Week 6 (3/9): Beyond Good and Evil I-III Week 7 (3/16): Beyond Good and Evil IV-VII Week 8 (3/23): Beyond Good and Evil VIII-IX Week 9 (4/6): The Gay Science IV Week 10 (4/13): Prefaces of 1886 Week 11 (4/20): On the Genealogy of Morality I Week 12 (4/27): On the Genealogy of Morality II Week 13 (5/4): On the Genealogy of Morality III Week 14 (5/11): On the Genealogy of Morality III + Wrap Additional required readings will be assigned on a weekly basis and posted on Bb. It is important that you read them prior to the class meeting during which they are to be discussed.