Ashley Woodward-nihilism and the Postmodern in Vattimo s Nietzsche

8/13/2019 Ashley Woodward-nihilism and the Postmodern in Vattimo s Nietzsche

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Ashley Woodward-NIHILISM AND THE POSTMODERN IN VATTIMO'S

NIETZSCHE

He who sees the ayss! "t w#th a$ ea%le's eyes & he who grasps the ayss w#th a$ ea%le's laws( he

)ossesses o"ra%e*

+N#et,she ./.! )* 0.12

Abstract

A o$$et#o$ #s o3te$ 4ade etwee$ )ost4oder$#s4 a$d $#h#l#s4! "t the 3"ll 4ea$#$% o3 s"h ao$$et#o$ #s rarely e5)lored* The o$te4)orary Ital#a$ )h#loso)her 6#a$$# Vatt#4o #s o$e o3 the 3ew

)h#loso)hers to ha7e de7oted 4"h wor8 to e5)la#$#$% th#s o$$et#o$* Vatt#4o e5tra)olates therele7a$e o3 N#et,she9s theory o3 $#h#l#s4 3or the )ost4oder$ o$d#t#o$! ar%"#$% that the o$e)t o3 the

)ost4oder$ a$ o$ly e tho"%ht r#%oro"sly #$ relat#o$ to the $#h#l#st# dest#$y o3 the West* Th#s art#lee5)lores Vatt#4o9s )ost4oder$ read#$% o3 N#et,she a$d ar%"es that th#s read#$% hel)s to #ll"4#$ate +2

the o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$: +02 the )ost4oder$ tra$s3or4at#o$ o3 $#h#l#s4!

wh#h was or#%#$ally a theory o3 the a#ls o3 4oder$#ty rather tha$ o3 )ost4oder$#ty: a$d +;2 why)ost4oder$#sts 4ay w#sh to a33#r4 $#h#l#s4 rather tha$ ta8e the a"sat#o$ that )ost4oder$#s4 #s

$#h#l#st# as a har%e that 4"st e re3"ted*

Post4oder$#s4 as a 4ode o3 tho"%ht #s o3te$ a"sed o3 e#$% $#h#l#st#! a$d

)ost4oder$#ty #s o3te$ see$ as a $#h#l#st# state o3 so#ety* A$ #$-de)th a$alys#s o3 the

o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$! howe7er! #s rarely %#7e$! a$d

)ost4oder$#sts the4sel7es rarely res)o$d to the har%e* A rare e5e)t#o$ to th#s state o3

a33a#rs #s 3o"$d #$ the wor8 o3 6#a$$# Vatt#4o! o$e o3 Italy9s 3ore4ost o$te4)orary

)h#loso)hers! who has treated the o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$

e5te$s#7ely* My )"r)ose here #s to e5a4#$e Vatt#4o9s wor8 3or the l#%ht #t sheds o$s"h a o$$et#o$* Vatt#4o9s tho"%ht #s #$te$s#7ely #$3or4ed y h#s read#$%s o3 oth

N#et,she a$d He#de%%er! "t I )ro)ose to 3o"s e5l"s#7ely here o$ h#s read#$% o3

N#et,she*

N#h#l#s4 as a )h#loso)h#al o$e)t was %#7e$ #ts 4ost de3#$#t#7e 3or4 y N#et,she! 3or

who4 #t #s


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the$! does $#h#l#s4 relate to )ost4oder$#ty@ What #s the stat"s o3 $#h#l#s4 #$

)ost4oder$#ty@ Pres"4aly! the theory o3 $#h#l#s4 that was de7elo)ed as a d#a%$os#s o3

4oder$#ty a$d 4oder$#s4 4"st "$der%o a transformation #3 #t #s to e a))l#ed to

)ost4oder$#ty a$d )ost4oder$#s4* That #s! #3 $#h#l#s4 a))l#es to s)e#3# so#al a$d

h#stor#al o$d#t#o$s! a$d #3 those o$d#t#o$s ha7e ha$%ed s#%$#3#a$tly +etwee$

4oder$#ty a$d )ost4oder$#ty2! the$ we sho"ld e5)et the d#a%$os#s o3 $#h#l#s4 #tsel3 toha$%e* Post4oder$#ty sho"ld e $#h#l#st# in different ways tha$ 4oder$#ty was

$#h#l#st#*

Th#s see4s stra#%ht3orward e$o"%h* Matters are s#%$#3#a$tly o4)l#ated! howe7er! y

the 3at that the )r#4e theor#st o3 $#h#l#s4 #$ modernityBr#edr#h N#et,she#s also

o$e o3 the )r#4e )re"rsors o3postmoderntheory #$ the )h#loso)h#al trad#t#o$* Th#s

4ea$s! the$! that N#et,she9s tho"%ht o$ta#$s lar%e ele4e$ts o3 what#$ retros)et

4ay e alled ?)ost4oder$*? It also s"%%ests that to a erta#$ e5te$t h#s theory o3

4oder$#ty 4ay #$ 3at e )ro)het# o3 )ost4oder$#ty* The tas8 o3 del#$eat#$% a

)ost4oder$ $#h#l#s4 3ro4 a 4oder$ $#h#l#s4! the$! #s $ot s#4)ly a 4atter o3 o$trast#$%

$#h#l#s4s w#th wholly d#33ere$t theor#es o3 so#ety a$d ate%or#es o3 tho"%ht* Howe7er!we sho"ld $ot #$3er that s"h a del#$eat#o$ #s $e#ther )oss#le $or worthwh#le o$ the

%ro"$ds that N#et,she9s theory o3 $#h#l#s4 #s wholly ade"ate 3or desr##$% a$d

res)o$d#$% to $#h#l#s4 #$ the )ost4oder$ o$d#t#o$* The "est#o$ o3 interpretation #s

)ert#$e$t hereN#et,she #s a$ a4#%"o"s th#$8er! a$d h#s theory o3 $#h#l#s4 +l#8e all

h#s theor#es2 #s o)e$ to 4"lt#)le #$ter)retat#o$s a$d e5tra)olat#o$s* It #s )oss#le to read

N#et,she #$ a 4oder$#st way* L#8ew#se! #t #s o$ly ea"se o3 )ost4oder$

#$ter)retat#o$s a$d e5tra)olat#o$s o3 h#s #deas that they 4ay see4 ade"ate to deal#$%

w#th $#h#l#s4 #$ )ost4oder$#ty*

The tas8 o3 del#$eat#$% 4oder$ a$d )ost4oder$ $#h#l#s4s! the$! #s to a erta#$ e5te$t the

tas8 o3 del#$eat#$% 4oder$ a$d )ost4oder$ #$ter)retat#o$s o3 N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4*

S"h a$ #$ter)retat#o$ #s "$derta8e$ y Ital#a$ )h#loso)her 6#a$$# Vatt#4o! who #s o$e

o3 the 3ew theor#sts to de7elo) a deta#led ao"$t o3 the o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4

a$d the )ost4oder$* Vatt#4o9s N#et,she there3ore sta$ds as a "se3"l 3#%"re o3 tho"%ht

3or deter4#$#$% the o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$* Wh#le Vatt#4o9s

wr#t#$%s o$ N#et,she are "#te lear a$d #$ l#ttle $eed o3 el"#dat#o$! what I wa$t to do

here #s 4a8e a o4)ar#so$ etwee$ h#s #$ter)retat#o$ a$d what I shall roadly all

?4oder$#st? #$ter)retat#o$s o3 N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4* Th#s o4)ar#so$ w#ll show the

%e$eral 3eat"res o3 the )ost4oder$ tra$s3or4at#o$ o3 $#h#l#s4! show why

)ost4oder$#s4 a$d )ost4oder$#ty 4#%ht le%#t#4ately e alled $#h#l#st#! a$d why th#s

$#h#l#s4 4#%ht e a33#r4ed! rather tha$ de$#ed! y )ost4oder$#sts*

I* Moder$ N#h#l#s4

Bor N#et,she! wr#t#$% #$ the seo$d hal3 o3 the $#$etee$th e$t"ry! $#h#l#s4 #s a d#sease

o3 the 4oder$ a%es)e#3#ally! the 4oder$European a%e* It #$3ets E"ro)ea$ so#ety

a$d "lt"re %e$erally! as well as e7ery #$d#7#d"al* N#et,she9s d#a%$os#s o3 $#h#l#s4 #s

also )ro)het#* He tells "s!


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)art#"lar #$ter)retat#o$ o3 the world( the Christian-moralo$e* Th#s #$ter)retat#o$ %#7es

4ea$#$% to h"4a$ l#3e y )os#t#$% oet#7e %ro"$ds o3 7al"e eyo$d Ma$ #$ the 3or4

o3 6od the Bather! the d#7#$e le%#slator o3 7al"e! the


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)oss##l#ty o3 overcoming$#h#l#s4! the o$7#t#o$ that there shall o4e a t#4e #$ h#story

whe$ $#h#l#s4 shall e le3t eh#$d* ;A3ter 4oder$#tya t#4e N#et,she )red#ts to ar#se

a h"$dred years 3ro4 $ow$#h#l#s4 w#ll e o7ero4e a$d h"4a$ "lt"re w#ll e

re#$7#%orated y $ew ate%or#es o3 7al"at#o$! a ?re7al"at#o$ o3 all 7al"es*?

II( Post4oder$ N#h#l#s4

+a2 Moder$#ty a$d Post4oder$#ty

Moder$#ty a$d )ost4oder$#ty are e)ohs )os#ted #$ a "#te o44o$! altho"%h y $o

4ea$s "$#7ersal! )h#loso)hy o3 h#story* Altho"%h the dates o3 )er#od#sat#o$ 7ary! a

)o)"lar 7ers#o$ #de$t#3#es 4oder$#ty as the )er#od 3ro4 the E$l#%hte$4e$t to the 4#d

twe$t#eth e$t"ry! a$d )ost4oder$#ty as a3ter that +Lyotard .1>! )*;2* Moder$#ty #s

ty)#3#ed y the sett#$% #$to )rat#e o3 the 7al"es o3 the E$l#%hte$4e$t )roet*

S#4)l#3y#$% %reatly! th#s )roet a#4s at the e4a$#)at#o$ o3 h"4a$8#$d thro"%h the

a))l#at#o$ o3 reaso$ to so#al )rat#e* H#stor#ally! th#s has 4ea$t the )rol#3erat#o$ o3s#e$e a$d teh$olo%y thro"%h #$d"str#al#sat#o$! the ad4#$#strat#o$ o3 4a$y as)ets o3

so#al l#3e! a$d the a))l#at#o$ o3 )ol#t#o-eo$o4# )roets as d#7erse as Mar5#st

o44"$#s4 a$d 3ree 4ar8et a)#tal#s4* Altho"%h there are o4)et#$% theor#es o3

)ost4oder$#ty! theor#sts a%ree that ha$%#$% so#al o$d#t#o$s! ty)#ally tho"%ht to e

oas#o$ed y the de7elo)4e$t a$d )rol#3erat#o$ o3 $ew #$3or4at#o$ teh$olo%#es!

4ea$ that the old theor#es o3 4oder$#ty $o lo$%er a))ly to so#et#es #$ the 4ost

teh$olo%#ally de7elo)ed $at#o$s at the )rese$t t#4e* Post4oder$#ty #s %e$erally

tho"%ht to e harater#,ed y the 3ra%4e$tat#o$ o3 so#ety #$to 4"lt#)le!

#$o44e$s"rale 3or4s o3 l#3e* Th#s 3ra%4e$tat#o$ 4ea$s that $o s#$%le

?4eta$arrat#7e? +to "se Lyotard9s well 8$ow$ ter42 a$ e5)la#$ so#al real#ty as a

whole! #$l"d#$% 4eta$arrat#7es o3 h#story that atte4)t to 4a8e se$se o3 the ha$%es #$

so#ety as )art o3 a$ o7er-arh#$% story ao"t the 4ea$#$% o3 h#story* Des)#te the

d#33ere$es etwee$ 7ar#o"s theor#es o3 )ost4oder$#ty! Vatt#4o el#e7es that 'there #s a

%e$eral a%ree4e$t as to the 4ea$#$% o3 the 7ery $ot#o$ o3 )ost4oder$#ty* I3 th#s $ot#o$

has a 4ea$#$% at all! #t has to e desr#ed #$ ter4s o3 the e$d o3 h#story' +Vatt#4o .1/!

)*002*

Aord#$% to Vatt#4o! 4oder$#ty #s harater#sed y the o$e)t o3 progress, a o$e)t

that rests ")o$ a unilinear 7#ew o3 h#story* That #s! #3 we )os#t a %oals"h as the

E$l#%hte$4e$t %oal o3 e4a$#)at#o$towards wh#h 4a$8#$d 4ay e sa#d to )ro%ress!

we see all o3 h#story #$ relat#o$ to th#s %oal* We ha7e o$ly one 7#ew o3 h#story! a$d th#s7#ew #s o$str"ted as a linealo$% wh#h so#ety 4o7es thro"%h t#4e* I$ 4oder$#ty!

e#$% ?4oder$? or ?$ew? #s #tsel3 a 7al"e! as #t #s see$ as overcominga$d lea7#$% eh#$d

the old! 4o7#$% 3"rther alo$% the l#$e towards the %oal* Aord#$% to Vatt#4o!

4oder$#ty w#ll ha7e o4e to a$ e$d whe$ we are $o lo$%er ale to 7#ew h#story as

"$#l#$ear* Th#s! he el#e7es! has #$ 3at o"rred! a$d o$st#t"tes the ad7e$t o3

)ost4oder$#ty* Bor Vatt#4o! the )o)"lar )ost4oder$ the4e o3 ?the e$d o3 h#story?

4ea$s the e$d o3 unilinear h#story*

So why has h#story e$ded@ Vatt#4o #de$t#3#es three road reaso$s +Vatt#4o ..02*

B#rstly! #$ the $#$etee$th a$d twe$t#eth e$t"r#es theory has e5)osed "$#l#$ear h#story as

ideological* That #s! #t #s a selet#7ely #ased 7#ew o3 h#story that learly ser7es the)ol#t#al )"r)oses o3 a l#4#ted %ro") o3 )eo)le at the e5)e$se o3 others* Ph#loso)hers o3
http://www.ul.ie/~philos/vol6/nihilism.html#note%203%23note%203http://www.ul.ie/~philos/vol6/nihilism.html#note%203%23note%203


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h#story a$d h#stor#o%ra)hers al#8e ha7e o4e to reo%$#se that the "$#l#$ear 7#ew o3

h#story wh#h s"))orts 4oder$ )ro%ress o$ly re)rese$ts the h#story o3 E"ro)ea$ 4a$*

There are 4"lt#)le h#stor#es wh#h 4ay e told 3ro4 4"lt#)le )ers)et#7es! a$d to assert

o$e h#story as do4#$a$t or total#s#$% #s to do "$"st 7#ole$e to the others* Bor e5a4)le!

the Wester$ 7#ew o3 h#story as the )ro%ress o3 reaso$ has ee$ "sed to "st#3y the

olo$#,at#o$ o3 o"$tr#es where s"))osedly less rat#o$al +a$d there3ore #$3er#or2 )eo)lesha7e dwelt* The #deolo%y o3 th#s h#story has s"))orted the s""%at#o$! sla7ery! a$d

%e$o#de o3 ?#$3er#or? raes* Seo$dly! the rea8dow$ o3 a "$#l#$ear h#story has ee$

a"sed y )rat#al e7e$ts* S#%$#3#a$tly! these #$l"de the e$d o3 E"ro)ea$ #4)er#al#s4

a$d olo$#al#s4* The s""%ated )eo)les ha7e reelled a$d #$s#sted that the#r stor#es e

told! 4a8#$% "s 8ee$ly aware oth that there are alter$at#7e h#stor#es a$d that the

#deolo%y o3 )ro%ress #s dee)ly #4)l#ated #$ se7ere #$"st#es*

Th#rdly! 3or Vatt#4o the 4ea$#$% o3 )ost4oder$#ty #s l#$8ed to the 3at that we l#7e #$ a

so#ety o3 %e$eral#sed o44"$#at#o$! or 4ass 4ed#a* I$ o))os#t#o$ to Ador$o a$d

Hor8he#4er9s )red#t#o$ that 4ass 4ed#a wo"ld lead to a 3"lly ho4o%e$#,ed so#ety

+Ador$o a$d Hor8he#4er ..=2! Vatt#4o el#e7es that the 4ost o7#o"s e33et o3 th#s4ed#a e5)los#o$ has #$ 3at ee$ a 3ra%4e$tat#o$ o3 o"r 7#ew o3 real#ty a$d a dee)e$#$%

o3 )l"ral#s4 #$ so#ety ro"%ht ao"t y the )rol#3erat#o$ o3 a 4"lt#t"de o3 alter$at#7e

)o#$ts o3 7#ew* More a$d 4ore s""lt"res are allowed to ?ha7e the#r say*? H#story has

e$ded $ot o$ly 3or the theoret#al a$d )rat#al reaso$s o"tl#$ed ao7e! "t ea"se the

4ass 4ed#a has 4ade "s aware o3 the "$te$a#l#ty o3 a "$#l#$ear h#story! s#$e that

h#story a$ o$ly tell o$e story where there are 4a$y to e told* Med#a a$d #$3or4at#o$

teh$olo%y ha7e 4ade )eo)le #$reas#$%ly aware that there are 4"lt#)le h#stor#es! $ot

"st o$e* I$ s"44ary! the$! 3or Vatt#4o )ost4oder$#ty #s harater#sed y the ?e$d o3

h#story? #$ so#et#es o3 4ass o44"$#at#o$! #$st#t"t#$% a$ era o3 3ra%4e$tat#o$!

4"lt#)l##ty! a$d )l"ral#s4*

+2 Vatt#4o9s N#et,shea$ N#h#l#s4

It #s the e$tral o$te$t#o$ o3 Vatt#4o9s oo8 The End of Modernity that the d#7erse

theor#es o3 )ost4oder$#s4 o$ly %a#$ lar#ty a$d r#%o"r whe$ s#t"ated #$ relat#o$ to the

)h#loso)h#es o3 N#et,she a$d He#de%%er! )art#"larly the $#h#l#st# as)ets o3 the#r

tho"%ht +Vatt#4o .112* Vatt#4o )ro7#des a$ #$ter)retat#o$ o3 N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4

wh#h oth #ll"4#$ates )ost4oder$#s4 a$d #s #ll"4#$ated y )ost4oder$#s4! a$d wh#h

elaorates the o$$et#o$ etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$* We 4#%ht say! the$!

that Vatt#4o )ro7#des "s w#th a )ost4oder$ N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4*

I3 we o4)are the ?trad#t#o$al? or ?4oder$#st? #$ter)retat#o$ o3 N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4

+o"tl#$ed #$ set#o$ o$e ao7e2 w#th Vatt#4o9s theory o3 )ost4oder$#ty! the esse$t#al

)o#$ts o3 d#33ere$e eo4e e7#de$t* That #s! we a$ see why 4oder$#st $#h#l#s4 does

$ot see4 to e a))l#ale to )ost4oder$#ty* B#rstly! #t #s ar%"ale that 4oder$#st

$#h#l#s4 3ollows 4oder$#s4 #$ %e$eral #$ e4)loy#$% a unilinear #$ter)retat#o$ o3

h#story* It tells a s#$%le story! s)e#3#ally ao"t E"ro)ea$ 4a$! as #3 #t were the story o3

the dest#$y o3 the e$t#re h"4a$ rae* Wh#le the 3at that $#h#l#s4 o$ly re3ers to the West

#s o3te$ s#%$alled! there #s o3te$ a$ "$s)o8e$ s"%%est#o$ that th#s #s the )ort#o$ o3

h"4a$#ty wh#h really 4atters )h#loso)h#ally a$d "lt"rally* oth N#et,she a$d

He#de%%er also #$s#st at t#4es o$ h#erarh#al "d%e4e$ts ao"t "lt"res a$d raes! a$

#$s#ste$e wh#h r#s8s the 8#$d o3 "lt"ral e5l"s#o$s that 4oder$#st h"4a$#s4 a))ears%"#lty o3* B"rther4ore! 4oder$#st $#h#l#s4 #s a progressiveh#story: )ro%ress #s tho"%ht


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o3 as the rad#al#sat#o$ o3 $#h#l#s4! w#th the ao4)l#sh4e$t a$d overcoming o3

$#h#l#s4 as the %oal* N#h#l#s4 o7ero4e #s a$alo%o"s to a state o3 e4a$#)at#o$ #$ other

4oder$#st 4eta$arrat#7es* S#$e ?the e$d o3 h#story? #s e$tral to )ost4oder$#ty a$d

)ost4oder$#s4! $#h#l#s4 as a )h#loso)hy o3 h#story +#$ the 4oder$#st! )ro%ress#7e

se$se2 wo"ld $ot see4 to a))ly* That #s! we a$$ot d#a%$ose $#h#l#s4 #$ )ost4oder$#ty

y )rese$t#$% #t as a sta%e #$ a s#$%le! "$#l#$ear h#story*>

B"rther4ore! we a$$ot)resr#e o7ero4#$% as a )ro)er res)o$se to $#h#l#s4! s#$e the #dea o3 o7ero4#$%

#tsel3at least #$ the 4oder$#st se$se#s #$e5tr#aly #4)l#ated #$ the $ot#o$ o3

)ro%ress* Whe$ we o7ero4e so4eth#$%! we )ro%ress eyo$d #t! a$d 3#$d o"rsel7es at a

$ew sta%e o3 h#story*

Vatt#4o )os#ts the e%#$$#$% o3 )ost4oder$#s4 #$ N#et,she9s wor8 +Vatt#4o .11!

))*/>-F2! a$d h#s #$ter)retat#o$ o3 N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4 #s 4ea$t to a))ly to

)ost4oder$#ty* I$ The End of Modernity Vatt#4o r#$%s o"t the )ost4oder$ ele4e$ts o3

N#et,she9s tho"%ht thro"%h a$ a$alys#s o3 h#s 7#ews o$ h#story: these 7#ews o$tr#"te

to a )h#loso)hy wh#h #s a))ro)r#ate 3or the )ost4oder$ a%e #$ wh#h h#story has e$ded*

I$ Human, All-Too-Human N#et,she )role4at#ses the o$e)t o3 ?o7ero4#$%!? the7ery o$e)t wh#h has ee$ s"h a$ #$te%ral )art o3 the 4oder$#st #$ter)retat#o$ o3 h#s

theory o3 $#h#l#s4* N#et,she #s o$er$ed w#th the deade$e o3 4oder$#ty! a$d how

th#s "lt"ral #ll 4#%ht e "red* O7ero4#$% 4oder$#ty! howe7er! a$$ot e a 7#ale

sol"t#o$* Moder$#ty #tsel3 #s de3#$ed #$ ter4s o3 o$sta$t o7ero4#$%: that #s! reat#o$ o3

the $ew that o7ero4es the old* Th#s o7ero4#$% #s esse$t#ally o"$d ") w#th the

4oder$ $arrat#7e o3 )ro%ress: y o7ero4#$% the old h#story 4o7es towards a 3"t"re

state o3 e$l#%hte$4e$t* Th#s state o3 e$l#%hte$4e$t #s "$derstood as a ret"r$ to a$

or#%#$! a se"re %ro"$d or 3o"$dat#o$ 3or the rat#o$al#ty that #ll"4#$ates so#ety #$ #ts

#deal state* I$ the #deolo%y o3 4oder$#ty! the $ew #s s#4"lta$eo"sly the 4ore or#%#$al*

N#et,she res)o$ds to the deade$e o3 4oder$#ty y reet#$% the ate%ory o3

o7ero4#$% alo$% w#th a reet#o$ o3 the #deal o3 the or#%#$! tho"%ht o3 as %ro"$d or

3o"$dat#o$* Bor N#et,she! #t #s the 7ery #dea o3 a se"re 3o"$dat#o$ 3or tho"%ht a$d

"lt"ral )rat#e that #s the root a"se 3or deade$e #$ 4oder$#ty* Th#s $ot#o$ o3

3o"$dat#o$ #s the heart o3 4eta)hys#s a$d o3 rel#%#o"s $#h#l#s4: #t #s the Sorat# des#re

3or a rat#o$al "st#3#at#o$ o3 l#3e that #4)l##tly 4a8es a $e%at#7e "d%4e$t o$ l#3e( l#3e

#s 3o"$d to e in need o3 "st#3#at#o$* Th#s des#re 3or the 3o"$dat#o$ #s at wor8 #$ the

Chr#st#a$-4oral #$ter)retat#o$ o3 the world a$d #$ the 4oder$#st #deolo%y o3 )ro%ress*

As s"h! #t #s at the heart o3 $#h#l#s4 a$d deade$e* S#$e the o$e)t o3 o7ero4#$% #s

a thoro"%hly 4oder$#st o$e)t! t#ed ") w#th the #dea o3 a )ro%ress#7e ret"r$ to the

or#%#$! $#h#l#s4 a$$ot e ?o7ero4e? y a$ o7ero4#$%* I$stead! N#et,she )ro)oses ad#ssol"t#o$ o3 4oder$#ty thro"%h a rad#al#sat#o$ o3 #ts te$de$#es: th#s #s rad#al

$#h#l#s4* A 8ey ele4e$t o3 N#et,she9s rad#al $#h#l#st strate%y #s a d#ssol"t#o$ +or

deo$str"t#o$2 o3 the or#%#$ as %ro"$d*

Tr"th 4ay e "$derstood as related$ess to a$ or#%#$ or 3o"$dat#o$* Bor N#et,she!

$#h#l#s4 #s harater#,ed y the h#%hest 7al"es de7al"at#$% the4sel7es! a$d tr"th #s a 8ey

7al"e #$ th#s sel3-de7al"at#o$* N#et,she9s r#t#"e o3 tr"tha$ e5)os"re o3 the ?tr"th?

o3 tr"th#s a strate%y o3 $#h#l#st rad#al#sat#o$ that at o$e d#ssol7es tr"th a$d the $ot#o$

o3 or#%#$* I$ ?O$ Tr"th a$d L#e #$ a No$4oral Se$se!? N#et,she )rese$ts what are

ta8e$ as tr"ths as 4eta)hors +N#et,she .=.2* We do $ot 8$ow th#$%s #$ the4sel7es as

they tr"ly are! "t thro"%h a ser#es o3 4eta)hor#sat#o$s3ro4 th#$%-#$-#tsel3 to se$se-data! to 4e$tal #4a%e! to word! to 4ed#at#o$ #$ a "lt"ral s)here o3 4ea$#$%! a$d a8


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to re3ere$e to the th#$%* Eah tra$s3or4at#o$ a$ o$ly e alled a 4eta)hor o3 what #t

tra$s3or4s* There #s $o related$ess to a$ or#%#$ or 3o"$dat#o$ here! 4erely 4eta)hor#

tra$s3or4at#o$s* I$ th#s way! tr"ths are see$ to e errors! or rather the res"lts o3

)roesses o3 err#$%* Aord#$% to Vatt#4o! N#et,she e5)oses real#ty as a ?t#ss"e o3

err#$%!? d#s)la#$% the 4oder$#st )r#7#le%#$% o3 tr"th a$d or#%#$* Th#s d#s)lae4e$t

allows a re3o"s#$% o3 atte$t#o$ away 3ro4 a$ or#%#$ as so"re o3 tr"th to the proimityo3 the errors y wh#h we l#7e* Bor N#et,she! th#s 4o7e #s esse$t#ally a l#3e-a33#r4#$%

o$e* He wr#tes( ! ))*;/-=2*

Bor N#et,she! the ?o7ero4#$%? o3 $#h#l#s4 o$s#sts #$ ta!ing a different attitudetowards the $#h#l#st# #$ter)retat#o$ o3 the world #tsel3* Wh#le we 4ay #$ a se$se e st"8


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w#th a o4)lete $#h#l#s4! th#s $#h#l#s4 #s $ot o$e o3 des)a#r a$d l#3e-$e%at#o$! "t o3

oyo"s a33#r4at#o$* N#et,she la#4s that o$e we ha7e %#7e$ ") the des#re to th#$8

solely #$ ter4s o3 3o"$dat#o$s a$d %ro"$ded tr"ths! we 4ay see the 7al"e that l#es #$

"$tr"th3or life itself #s a ta)estry o3 errors! a t#ss"e o3 err#$%! a wealth o3 "$3o"$ded

#$ter)retat#o$s* Vatt#4o! "s#$% N#et,she9s ter4 ')h#loso)hy o3 4or$#$%' to re3er to

o4)lete $#h#l#s4! wr#tes! 'the o$te$t o3 the )h#loso)hy o3 4or$#$% #s $oth#$% othertha$ the 7ery erra$y o3 4eta)hys#s! "t see$ 3ro4 a d#33ere$t )o#$t o3 7#ew! that o3 the

4a$ o3 %ood te4)era4e$t! who )ossesses a 3#r4! 4#ld! a$d! at otto4! heer3"l so"l'

+Vatt#4o .11! )*=2* The )h#loso)hy o3 4or$#$%! 3or Vatt#4o9s N#et,she! #s the

)roess o3 th#$8#$% thro"%h o4)lete $#h#l#s4 w#th a$ affirmative att#t"de* Th#s! 3or

Vatt#4o! #s all that $#h#l#s4 #$ )ost4oder$#ty a$ e*

The a#l#ty to a33#r4 rather tha$ de$y l#3e #$ the 3ae o3 3o"$dat#o$less$ess! "$tr"th a$d

err#$%! howe7er! de)e$ds ")o$ te4)era4e$t* O$e re"#res a stro$% a$d heer3"l

te4)era4e$t #$ order to a))re#ate o4)lete $#h#l#s4 rather tha$ 3all #$to des)a#r* Th#s

res)o$se does $ot a$swer the e)#ste4olo%#al )role4s o3 relat#7#s4! "t 4erely the

o44o$ ass"4)t#o$ that s"h relat#7#s4 #$e7#taly leads to des)a#r* It #s a o44o$4o7e 3or N#et,she to ta8e )h#loso)h#al )role4s "s"ally o$ly )osed #$ ter4s o3

astrat rat#o$al#ty a$d to re#$ter)ret the4 #$ e5tra-rat#o$al ter4s s"h as health!

d#%est#o$! e4ot#o$! )syholo%y! or! 4ore roadly! w#ll to )ower* We 4ay see h#s

reo"rse to te4)era4e$t #$ res)o$d#$% to $#h#l#s4 as "st s"h a 4o7e* B"rther4ore! we

4ay see s"h 4o7es as e$aled y the r#t#"e o3 rat#o$al#ty harater#st# o3

N#et,she9s wor8 a$d also o3 )ost4oder$#s4 %e$erally* roadly s)ea8#$%! r#t#s who

a"se )ost4oder$#s4 o3 $#h#l#s4 te$d to )hrase the#r )role4s a$d de4a$d a$swers #$

ter4s restr#ted to astrat rat#o$al#ty! d#sallow#$% reo"rse to e5tra-rat#o$al ter4s*

Vatt#4o9s N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4 #$s#sts ")o$ s"h ter4s! as do so4e other )ost4oder$

)h#loso)h#es! a$d #t #s o3te$ th#s e5tra-rat#o$al ele4e$t that allows )ost4oder$#sts to

a33#r4 $#h#l#s4 +#$ the se$se o3 a$t#-3o"$dat#o$al#s42 rather tha$ 3eel de#l#tated y #t*

Co$l"s#o$

Vatt#4o9s N#et,shea$ $#h#l#s4 #s $ot the o$ly! a$d 4ay $ot e the 4ost ade"ate!

theory o3 )ost4oder$ $#h#l#s4* F Howe7er! #t #s "se3"l #$ #ll"4#$at#$% the o$$et#o$

etwee$ $#h#l#s4 a$d the )ost4oder$* A o4)ar#so$ etwee$ Vatt#4o9s )ost4oder$

N#et,she a$d the ?4oder$#st? #$ter)retat#o$ shows so4e %e$eral 3eat"res o3 the

)ost4oder$ tra$s3or4at#o$ o3 the theory o3 $#h#l#s4* These 3eat"res are! 3#rstly! that

$#h#l#s4 a$$ot e tho"%ht as a "$#l#$ear h#story! a$d seo$dly that the s#4)le

overcoming o3 $#h#l#s4! tho"%ht as a new era o r a new foundation! a$$ot e a$ade"ate res)o$se* N#h#l#s4 #$ #ts )ost4oder$ 4a$#3estat#o$ #s o4)lete $#h#l#s4* The

way to ?o7ero4#$%? the $e%at#7e as)ets o3 $#h#l#s4 #s $ot to o7ero4e $#h#l#s4 #tsel3

tho"%ht as 3o"$dat#o$less$ess"t to ha$%e o$e9s att#t"de towards #t*

Post4oder$#ty a$ e see$ as a $#h#l#st# so#ety o$ Vatt#4o9s a$alys#s ea"se h#story

has e$ded: the West has lost #ts %ro"$ds 3or h#stor#al 4ea$#$%* The )l"ral#st#

)rol#3erat#o$ o3 alter$at#7e 8$owled%es! el#e3s a$d 7al"es o#$#des w#th a rea8dow$

o3 a$y shared 4ea$#$%s a$d 7al"es to at as a o44o$ so#al %ro"$d* Post4oder$

so#ety! too! #s 3o"$dat#o$less* Post4oder$#sts s"h as Vatt#4o e4rae $#h#l#s4!

howe7er! rather tha$ see#$% #t as a halle$%e to the 7al#d#ty o3 the#r theor#es a$d 7al"es!

ea"se they e4rae 3o"$dat#o$less$ess! see#$% the t#ss"e o3 err#$% as the esse$e o3

real#ty* Rather tha$ searh#$% 3or a $ew 3o"$dat#o$! )ost4oder$ $#h#l#sts are o$te$t to


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o$t#$"e


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Nietzsche, Friedrich (1968) The Will To Power, trans. Walter Kaufman and R.J. Hollingdale. New York:

Vintage.

________________ (1969) Thus Spoke Zarathustra, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. London: Penguin.

________________ (1979) "On Truth and Lie in a Nonmoral Sense" in Philosophy of Truth, trans. Daniel

Breazeale. Highlands, N.J.: Humanities Press.

________________ (1982)Daybreak, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

________________ (1984)Human, All-Too-Human, trans. Marion Faber and Stephen Lehmann. London:

Penguin.

________________ (1990) Twilight of the Idols/The Anti-Christ, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. London:

Penguin.

________________ (1996) On the Genealogy of Morals, trans. Douglas Smith. Oxford and New York:

Oxford University Press.

________________ (1997) "On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life" in Untimely

Meditations, ed. Daniel Breazeale, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University

Press.

Pope John-Paul II (1995), Evangelium vitae: Il valore e linviolabilita delta vita umana . Milan: Paoline

Editoriale Libri.

Rose, Gillian (1984)Dialectic of Nihilism. Oxford: Blackwell.

Toynbee, Arnold (1963)A Study of History vols. VIII and IX. New York: Oxford University Press.

Van der Will, Wilfried (1993) "Nietzsche and Postmodernism," in The Fate of the New Nietzsche, ed.

Keith Ansell-Pearson and Howard Caygill. Aldershot, England: Avebury.

Vattimo, Gianni (1986) "The End of (Hi)story," Chicago Review 30 (4): 20-30.

_____________ (1988) The End of Modernity: Nihilism and Hermeneutics in Post-modern Culture, trans.

John R. Snyder. Cambridge: Polity Press.

_____________ (1992) The Transparent Society, trans. David Webb. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins

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White, Alan (1987) "Nietzschean Nihilism: A Typology," International Studies in PhilosophyVol. 14

(2): 29-44.

Copyright 2002 Minerva.

All rights are reserved, but fair and good faith use with full attribution may be made of

this work for educational or scholarly purposes.

Ashley Woodward is completing a PhD in philosophy through the University ofQueensland and teaches at Monash University


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Ashley Woodward-nihilism and the Postmodern in Vattimo s Nietzsche

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