SUMMARIES/COMMENTARIES WHEN READING TOWARD A GENEALOGY OF MORALS

PHIL -- FALL (I) 2001

Bob Corbett, instructor

Meets: 1 - 3 PM.

THE ASSIGNMENT

• The paper is exactly two pages; no more no less.
• The margins required are quite strict: no more than a single inch on all four borders, top, bottom, two sides.
• Paper must be in either 10 pt. or 12 pt. type.
• Page one is a summary of central ARGUMENTS. Please note. This is NOT a summary of the text. It is a summary of central ARGUMENTS. These two notions are extremely different. Nietzsche is especially difficult in that he often does not write in typical philosophical arguments, but writes poetically, imagetically, intuitively. That's fine, and he is a genius at this style. But, this very style makes him difficult to understand and many readers take an easy way out and just report to themselves or others (truly) that Nietzsche "says" or "believes" this or that. Any they just report on the text, citing specially exciting lines or concepts. This is simply not philosophical analysis. The much tougher task is to re-organize Nietzsche's thoughts into CLAIMS HE MAKES, and then ARGUMENTS (REASONS) HE GIVES FOR THESE CLAIMS.

  This one page summary is precisely this. You must choose the most KEY theses of the section read, name it or them in a single sentence each, then make clear the argument Nietzsche has to show that this thesis is so.

  In this summary section there should not be one single word of evaluation or criticism. Just tell us Nietzsche's ARGUMENTS.

• Page two is a reflection paper by you of analysis, criticism, philosophical stretching to make sense of and engage Nietzsche. THIS PAGE IS NOT ABOUT YOU. It is about the ideas and issues. Thus things like: I believe this or that; or I feel this; or I am reminded of this or that IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT THIS PAGE IS ABOUT. Nietzsche makes claims about the WORLD not about himself. What he says is rationally plausible about the world or it is not. You must engage Nietzsche's ideas philosophically, not personally at the subjective level. Again, this paper is a reflection on the sense, truth, intelligibility of Nietzsche, not about you and your feelings.

  This is an extremely short one page. Concentrate on as significant a set of philosophical reflections as you can and emphasize those things which are philosophically most important and most central to Nietzsche as a philosopher as you can.

It is expected and taken for granted (and will be reflected in the grade), that you are university level students writing at a university level of English using standard forms of grammar, spelling and form.

The grades on the papers will reflect the depth and philosophical significance of what you write more than any other factor.

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