Research Seminar in Post-Kantian European Philosophy, 2019/2020
Unless otherwise stated, Post-Kantian European Philosophy Research Group seminars take place on Tuesdays, 5:30–7:30pm in Room S0.11 (ground floor of Social Studies). All welcome. For further information, please contact tbc
Post-Kantian European Philosophy Research Seminar Series
Guest Speaker: Maudemarie Clark (University of California, Riverside)
Title: 'Does Nietzsche Overcome The Birth of Tragedy's Nihilistic View of Tragedy in His Later Work?'
Abstract: Our topic is the relationship between the account of tragedy we find in Nietzsche鈥檚 first book and his later view of that artistic genre. Aaron Ridley has argued powerfully that Nietzsche鈥檚 later view does not overcome the problems that afflict his earlier account. We agree completely with Ridley and we [Clark] have previously argued that Nietzsche鈥檚 original account of tragedy is a failure, that it fails to do what he was attempting to do. But we will argue contra Ridley that Nietzsche does overcome his early (and nihilistic) view of tragedy in his later work. The plan is to explain what we take to be the aim of The Birth of Tragedy and why we take it to be a failure. We will then look at Ridley鈥檚 argument for reading Nietzsche鈥檚 later view of tragedy in Twilight of the Idols as exhibiting the same failure, and explain our reasons for rejecting that account. These reasons will then lead us, indeed force us, to say something about Nietzsche鈥檚 later view of art more generally.
The session will be held online.