Nietzsche's Anti-DarwinismFriedrich Nietzsche's complex connection to Charles Darwin has been much explored, and both scholarly and popular opinions have tended to assume a convergence in their thinking. In this study, Dirk Johnson challenges that assumption and takes seriously Nietzsche's own explicitly stated 'anti-Darwinism'. He argues for the importance of Darwin for the development of Nietzsche's philosophy, but he places emphasis on the antagonistic character of their relationship and suggests that Nietzsche's mature critique against Darwin represents the key to understanding his broader (anti-)Darwinian position. He also offers an original reinterpretation of the Genealogy of Morals, a text long considered sympathetic to Darwinian naturalism, but which he argues should be taken as Nietzsche's most sophisticated critique of both Darwin and his followers. His book will appeal to all who are interested in the philosophy of Nietzsche and its cultural context. |
Contents
1 | |
Part I Early Darwinism to the AntiDarwin | 15 |
Part II Nietzsches Genealogy of Morals | 109 |
215 | |
229 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
actions active affirmative agon animals Anti-Darwin argues artist ascetic ideal asceticism atheism bad conscience become behavior believe biological biological type challenge christian clash competition critique cruelty cultural Darwin Darwin’s theories Darwinian Darwinists David Strauss decadence directed distinction emerged english psychologists essay eternal return evolution evolutionary explain expression fact feeling final fittest force Friedrich Nietzsche genealogical genealogists Genealogy of Morals GM ii guilt higher type historical human ical immoral individual insights instincts instinctual reality interpretation man’s mazzino montinari means metaphysical middle period modern science moralistes narrative natural selection naturalist Nietzsche’s nihilism noble notion objective one’s origins outer-directed pain Paul rée perspective philosophical physiological polemical position priest priestly punishment question racial re)active re)active energy rée reflected represents resentment ressentiment scientific sense social specific spirit strand strauss strong types superior survival thought tion traditional truth Übermensch understanding University Press values wagner warrior weak zarathustra