Nietzsche on genealogy, knowledge, and critique

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is Friedrich Nietzsche’s genealogy. To explore Nietzsche’s genealogy, I examine three central questions: (1) Is genealogy identical to history? (2) If genealogy is not identical to history, what is an alternative interpretation? (3) What types of knowledge and critique arise from it? By addressing these questions, which correspond to the three parts of this thesis, I aim to present a critical understanding of genealogy and the types of knowledge and critique arising from it, contributing to the on-going discussion.

My working hypothesis posits that Nietzschean genealogy can plausibly be perceived as a mechanism incorporating fictional and historical elements regarding the genesis and evolution of moral values. It is constructed through artistic-rhetorical means and aims to elicit an affective response from its readership. This affective response and the concealments the artistic discourse provides activate a critique of the values internalised by readers by fostering a sense of scepticism generated by the genealogical narratives.

In Part I, I delve into genealogy’s challenging relationship to history. In Part II, I suggest an alternative interpretation of Nietzsche’s genealogy: rather than describing actual historical events which led to the creation and development of moral values, genealogy offers new perspectives, blending actual and fictional elements and various rhetorical means to evoke affects in readers. In Part III, I delve deeper into Nietzsche’s genealogical approach, focusing on its outcome beyond the affective engagement as an invitation to an open-ended inquiry and as the activation of critique in practice.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for Christopher Janaway: orcid.org/0000-0002-9600-8837

Catalogue record

Export record