This week's reading, I'll remind you, is the perennial favorite of my classes.
It is short and it is anything but sweet. I should warn you that Nietzsche
is staunchly anti-religious, particularly anti-Christian. I understand
that this may strike against many of our sensibilities. But let
me say two things against this regard. One, we will discuss an
opposing point-of-view in a few weeks. Two, it shouldn’t matter that
we read something that goes against our belief system. The primary question
for us is whether Nietzsche, or any other philosopher we read, is correct.
It just may be that Nietzsche is right, but, like a Socrates or a Jesus,
he finds himself standing alone trying to change a corrupt society.
Even if he is wrong, is there not some benefit to talking about him?
I suggest you stop reading this right now, pick up Nietzsche, and give him
a quick read through just to take in and enjoy his style of writing (takes
about 10 minutes). Okay, you're back? Good stuff, huh?, regardless
of whether you agree or not. The problem with this reading selection
is that it doesn’t give you the complete picture, and in fact, is probably
misleading. My purpose in giving you snippets of his readings is to
give you just a feel. I’ll complete the picture in class.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Homework Question #1 (one sentence): who is the “overman”?
Homework Question #2 (one paragraph): describe the “last man”.
Morality as Anti-Nature
Homework Question #3 (one sentence): how does he feel about the passions?
Homework Question #4 (one sentence): how does he feel about conformity?
On the Will to Power (pg. 75-76)
Homework Question #5 (one paragraph): what is good?
On Eternal Recurrence
No homework questions attached to this.
Remember: one page please, double spaced.
