Time Schedule:
Walter S. Clifton
PHIL 301
Seattle Campus
Philosophical topics at the intermediate level. Content varies each quarter, depending on instructor.
Class description
"Nietzsche the (Im)moralist" Many people erroneously tag Friedrich Nietzsche as a moral nihilist, as though he believes in no moral values at all. There is a moral system in his philosophical works, but it's distinctly at odds with other moral systems of his (and our) day, such as Christianity, Kantianism, and utilitarianism. Nietzsche seeks a "revaluation of all values" which most commentators take to be an undermining of the conceptual framework underlying the historical treatment of morality.
In this course we are going to look closely at some of Nietzsche's most relevant writings on morality, while also taking into account his metaphysical and epistemological views. We will read from the following works: _On the Genealogy of Morals_, _Beyond Good and Evil_, _The Gay Science_, _Twilight of the Idols_, _Ecce Homo_, as well as some of his unpublished writings found in the collection _The Will to Power_. As Nietzsche is reacting in many ways to the moral theories of Immanuel Kant and Arthur Schopenhauer, we will also read from Kant's _Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals_ and Schopenhauer's _On the Basis of Morals_.
Previous coursework in PHIL 100, 102, or 240 required
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
