2009 Fall POLSCI 226S-01
Bulletin Course Description Study of the thinker who has, in different incarnations, been characterized as the prophet of nihilism, the destroyer of values, the father of fascism, and the spiritual source of postmodernism. An examination of his philosophy as a whole in order to come to terms with its significance for his thinking about politics. Instructor: Gillespie
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title NIETZSCHE'S POLIT PHILOS Department POLSCI Course Number 2009 Fall 226S Section Number 01 Primary Instructor Gillespie,Michael A Prerequisites
Synopsis of course content
This course will be an examination of the of the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, the fascinating and at times infuriating thinker who,in different incarnations, has been characterized as the prophet of nihilism, the destroyer of values, the father of fascism,and the spiritual source of postmodernism. Readings will be drawn from the entire corpus of his work and will provide the student with the opportunity to come to terms with all of the various facets of his thought. We will also spend some time considering the origins of his thought in the thought of the late eighteenth and earlier nineteenth centuries.
Textbooks
Nietzsche, The Portable Nietzsche
Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner
Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals
Assignments
Students will be expected to read about 100 pages of Nietzsche per week + secondary readings
Each student will make one presentation in class on the secondary reading
Exams
A final for undergraduates
Term Papers
10-15 page paper for undergraduates
10-15 page paper for graduate students if completed before the end of reading period. Thereafter a 25-30 paper.
Grade to be based on
Undergraduates: paper 40%, Exam 40%, participation 20%
Graduates: paper 80%, participation 20%
Additional Information
This course should be of special interest to students in Political Philosophy, Philosophy, German Studies, and Literary Theory. If a sufficient number of students are interested we will run an associated section that reads through some of Nietzsche's work in German.
