Nietzsche's children : a physiological analysis of the scholar's task

Throughout Nietzsche's writings we find discussions of the proper relationship of the scholar/scientist to the philosopher, wi th the scholar of ten being presented in a derogatory light. In this thesis, I examine Nietzsche's por t rai t of the scholar through the lens of his physiological or clinical perspective as articulated by Dr. Daniel R. Ahern in his monograph entitled Nietzsche as Cultural Physician. My aim in doing so is to grasp the affirmative, creative aspect of this seemingly destructive polemic against scholars. I begin wi th a detailed discussion of Nietzsche's por t rai t of the scholar in Beyond Good and Evil. This includes an explication of Ahern's position, followed by an application of the diagnostic perspective to Nietzsche's discussion of the objective type, the skeptic, and the critic. I then look at how the characteristics of all three types are present in the Nietzschean 'free spirit.' I also discuss the physiological basis of esotericism in Nietzsche's work, as well as Nietzsche's revaluation of the scholarly vi r tue known as Red/ichkeit (or 'honesty'). I conclude wi th comments on the free spirit's relationship to the future.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Humanities

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Philosophy

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Ellis, Carolyn

• Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900.
• Scholars
• Philosophers

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/3413

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/3413