Justice against Objectivity for Nietzsche’s Modern Man; Or, The Efficient Causes of Modernity
AbstractThis paper analyses Nietzsche's article 'On the Use and Abuse of History for Life' and suggests a 'non-scholastic' approach to reading Nietzsche. The author refers to Nietzsche's critique of Hegel's view of history as 'idolatrous worship of the factual' and instead identifies in Nietzsche's view of history expressions of life, emancipation, morality, justice and ultimately 'goodness' which he claims comes from 'the right balance between history and unhistory.' We should not, according to Nietzsche, submit to the subjective/objective dichotomy as this leads to a fear of life and ultimately a 'weak personality'. Nor should we fear 'forgetting' which is a necessary condition of action, existence and ultimately of freedom. According to the author, Nietzsche brings in here the concept of justice, which depends on due process, as well as allocated labels of truth and untruth. Ultimately the author claims that for Nietzsche history should not search for ultimate truths but instead present an aesthetics of justice. |