Nietzsche's political skepticism / Tamsin Shaw.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shaw, Tamsin, 1970-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Legitimacy of governments.

Authority.

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900--Political and social views.

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (171 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Political theorists have long been frustrated by Nietzsche's work. Although he develops profound critiques of morality, culture, and religion, it is very difficult to spell out the precise political implications of his insights. He himself never did so in any systematic way. In this book, Tamsin Shaw claims that there is a reason for this: Nietzsche's insights entail a distinctive form of political skepticism. Shaw argues that the modern political predicament, for Nietzsche, is shaped by two important historical phenomena. The first is secularization, or the erosion of religious belief, and the fragmentation of moral life that it entails. The second is the unparalleled ideological power of the modern state. The promotion of Nietzsche's own values, Shaw insists, requires resistance to state ideology. But Nietzsche cannot envisage how these values might themselves provide a stable basis for political authority; this is because secular societies, lacking recognized normative expertise, also lack a reliable mechanism for making moral insight politically effective. In grappling with this predicament, Shaw claims, Nietzsche raises profound questions about political legitimacy and political authority in the modern world.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Abbreviations

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Predatory State

Chapter 2. The Self-Destruction of Secular Religions

Chapter 3. Laws of Agreement

Chapter 4. Nietzsche as a Moral Antirealist

Chapter 5. Nietzsche as a Moral Realist

Chapter 6. Nietzsche as a Skeptic about Liberalism

Acknowledgments

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612086946

9781400828128

1400828120

9781282086944

1282086944

OCLC:

335214850