RESEARCH PAPERS FOR COURSE ON FRIEDERICH NIETZSCHE

PHIL -- FALL (I) 2001

Bob Corbett, instructor

Meets: 1 - 3 PM Tues. and Thurs.

• THE ASSIGNMENT

  Pick one of the topics below, or negotiate an alternative topic with Corbett.

  Write a significant research paper on that topic. It should be double spaced, at least 6 full pages of text but no more than 10 pages unless you negotiation this with Corbett.

  Papers must be in 12 point type with relatively small magins on all sides. This is a minimum of 6 FULL pages of text. There must be a separate cover page for all basic data, and both endnote and bibliography (which are required), are in addition to the 6-10 pages of text.

• THE GRADES:

  The grades will be given on the following basis:

  • A grade of "C" will mean that the student followed the assignment above EXACTLY, and that the paper is a full 6 pages of text and no more than 10 pages. It is double spaced in 12 point type and in standard English throughout. The paper has all notes on an end-note page and a bibliography of works consulted and used. Most importantly, the task of the particular paper is successful achieved. The paper is overall judged to be acceptable, respectable university level work at this level.
  • A grade of "A" will mean that the student not only did all required of a grade of "C," but that the content solves the question asked in a manner that Corbett would judge as superior in relation to those whom he has taught in the past 36 years.
  • A grade of "B" will mean that the student not only did all required of a grade of "C," but that the content solves the question asked in a manner that Corbett would judge as noticeably above average in relation to those whom he has taught in the past 36 years.
  • A greade of "D" will mean the student simply didn't quite achieve a level of work expected of a university student at this level of study.
  • A grade of "F" would mean some serious level of failure to complete at a satisfactory level of work, the task of the paper and to do so on-time.

• THE PAPER TOPICS
  
  
  1. Hollingdale defends Nietzsche from the charge of women hating. Examine his position (pp. 174-175 esp.) in relation to Nietzsche's writings. Examine the writings of at least two known Nietzsche scholars who are less favorable. Take a strong and defended stand on this issue.

  2. Hollingdale takes a Darwinian approach to Nietzsche's Ubermensch. Man develops above the animal and the Ubermensch is the next move. Zarathustra, at least, and the "last man" will eventually arrive. Examine and develop Hollingdale's position on this and then cite and develop an opposing view from a respected Nietzsche scholar. Take a strong and defended stand on the issue.

  3. The Appolonian / Dionysusian dichotomy is strong in The Birth of Tragedy. Hollingdale holds that Nietzsche eventually overcame this view. Develop Hollingdale's position and then develop and evaluate an opposing view from a known and important Nietzsche scholar. Take a strong and defended stand of this issue.

  4. Hollingdale holds that the key to understanding the will to power is with the 4th of the Untimely Meditations. Explain this view of Hollingdale and the compare it with other views of the will to power in at least one other Nietzsche scholar. Take a strong and defended stand on this issue.

  5. Hollingdale holds that Nietzsche holds that one cannot give up Christianity and still rationally follow a Christian ethic. The two are inextricably linked. Develop Hollingdale's position and then cite a contrary view on the part of another important Nietzsche scholar. Take a strong and defended stand on the issue.

  6. Carefully develop and exposit Jacques Derrida's view of the work of Frederich Nietzsche.

  7. Psychological egoism claims we do in fact always act in our own interests, thus ethical egoists who hold this view claim we "ought" to do so. This is certainly a curious notion of morality since the deterministic principle in the psychology seems to make "morality" of any sort impossible.
     
     But, to what extent is Nietzsche's will to power the same thing? He seems to claim the will to power is necessary and innate even if we can't realize it. (That is, achieve it). Is it fair to put Nietzsche in the camp of ethical egoism?

  8. Nietzsche is often charged with being the philosopher of Nazism. Certainly there are weird temporal issues here, but yet there seems to be a case for it. If one assumes Hollingdale's stand that Nietzsche is both rational and mainly consistent, then the concepts of Ubermensch and the will to power seem consistent with Nazism. Nietzsche's morality seems to have a principle of action, but no content, thus Nazis could use these principles to justly defend their own value choices.
     
     Work out a careful analysis of this issue and defend your position with careful reasons.

  9. Walter Kaufmann, an important Nietzsche scholar, suggests that to really understand the distinction between good and bad and between good and evil, that one should read The Iliad for the former and the New Testament for the latter. Greek vs. fundamental Christian values.
     
     Explore this thesis. Carefully examine the BEST case you can make from the Iliad for clarifying the morality of good and bad. Carefully examine the BEST case you can make from the New Testament for the morality of good and evil.
     
     Take a firm stance, defended by careful reasons as to whether or not Kaufmann's suggestion is a good one.
     
     
  10. Nietzsche rages against the notion of pity. He claims he is not alone in this among important philosophers. He says: "For this overestimation of and predilection for pity on the part of modern philosophers is something new: hitherto philosophers have been at one as to the worthlessness of pity. I name only Plato, Spinoza, La Rochefoucauld and Kant -- four spirits as different from one another as possible, but united in one thing: in their low estimation of pity."
      
      Develop and show the view of pity in each of the four.
      
      
  11. Nietzsche recognizes that in fact nearly everyone has elements of both the morality of good and bad and good and evil in their common repertoire of actions. This mix can relatively easily be seen in films, both modern and classic. Put together a video collage with voice over which shows and demonstrates the ethics of both good and bad and good and evil

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