Nietzsche: A Critical Reader

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) has exerted a decisive and radical influence on the central themes of twentieth–century philosophy, art and literature. Who Nietzsche actually was, and what his thought can be construed to mean and imply, are questions which have been addressed in a variety of ways by authors ranging from Lukacs and Adorno to Kaufmann and Derrida. Yet no single reading seems able to dominate or determine the entire terrain of Nietzsche′s intellectual heritage.

With that in mind, this volume collects together a record of the key readings which comprise the three principal traditions or methodologies of Nietzsche interpretation: the Anglo–American, German, and French traditions. In so doing, the volume provides a key record of and guide to the central elements of Nietzsche scholarship, and encourages an appreciation of the divergences and similarities which both separate and unify these interpretations of Nietzsche′s work.

Containing an extensive introduction to Nietzsche interpretation, a comprehensive and up–to–date bibliography, and a glossary of key terms, the volume is essential reading for students encountering Nietzsche′s work for the very first time, and is the ideal basis for a course.

1. Introduction: Nietzsche′s Institutions: Peter Sedgwick (University of Wales, College of Cardiff).

2. The Significance of Michel Foucault′s Reading of Nietzsche: Power, the Subject, and Political Theory: Keith Ansell–Pearson.

3. Returning to Nature: Nietzsche′s Gotterdammerung: Daniel W. Conway (Pennsylvania State University).

4. Interpreting Signatures (Nietzsche/Heidegger): Two questions: Jacques Derrida.

5. Nietzsche, Ethics and Sexual Difference: Rosalyn Diprose (Finders University of South Australia).

6. Weber, Nietzsche and Music: Andrew Edgar (University of Wales, College of Cardiff).

7. Kant′s Doctrine of the Beautiful. Its Misinterpretation by Schopenhauer and Nietzsche: Martin Heidegger.

8. Theories and Innovations in Nietzsche: Logic, Theory of Knowledge and Metaphysics: R. J. Hollingdale.

9. Nietzsche′s Attitude Toward Socrates: Walter Kaufmann.

10. Accessories (Ecce Homo, ′Why I Write Such Good Books′, ′The Untimelies′: Sarah Kofman.

11. Shamanic Nietzshe: Nick Land (University of Warwick).

12. Traces of Discordance: Heidegger – Nietzsche: Will McNeill (DePaul University).

13. Nietzsche and Critical Theory: William Outhwaite.

14. Zarathustra/Zarathustra as Educator: Richard Schacht (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign).

15. Putting Nietzsche to Work: The Case of Gilles Deleuze: Alan D. Schrift (Grinnell College).

16. The ′Spider′s Web′ and the ′Tool′: Nietzsche vis–&aacute–vis Rorty on Metaphor: Alessandra Tanesini (University of Wales, College of Cardiff).

Select Bibliography.

Peter R. Sedgwick is Lecturer in Philosophy at University of Wales, College of Cardiff. His publications are in 19th–century continental philosophy and contemporary post–analytic philosophy.