Loyola University Chicago

Department of Philosophy

Phil 422: Nietzsche

Catalog Description

This course is a study of Nietzsche's central ideas, in terms of their origins, development and significance for contemporary philosophy and culture. Focus varies, e.g., the primacy of interest, linguistic indeterminacy and the aesthetic theory of meaning, experimentalism, the question of style, and the human value of science and art.


PHIL 422: Nietzsche - Nietzsche's Positive Philosophy

Dr. Jaqueline Scott

This course will to explore the debate among Nietzsche scholars as to the nature of Nietzsche's positive philosophy. We will examine such issues as the role of tragedy, politics, culture, Dionysus, the Übermensch, will to power, ressentiment, health, and decadence in the later versions of his positive project.  We will then be asking whether this project is focused on creating great individuals or on instituting a cultural/political revaluation, and if it is as radical as he thinks it is.


PHIL 422: Nietzsche - Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals

Dr. Jaqueline Scott

We will focus on one of Nietzsche’s best-known books: On the Genealogy of Morals. We will read Birth of Tragedy as well as two late works in order to figure out to get a more general sense of his arguments and themes in the late works, and then we will make our way through Genealogy. We will then spend the last few weeks of the course reading a few secondary sources that address themes/concepts/arguments raised in Genealogy.

On the Genealogy of Morals is most commonly known for Nietzsche’s criticisms of traditional philosophy (slave morality, bad conscience and the Christian Ascetic Ideal). In this course, we will also engage in a close analysis to suss out Nietzsche’s positive arguments. In particular, we will examine the roles of art, self-knowledge, religion, and philosophy in Nietzsche’s criticisms of, and positive suggests for, contending with philosophical nihilism.