Introductory description

N/A

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will focus on the chief ideas and doctrines of Friedrich Nietzsche, including the notion
of tragic philosophy, the crisis of nihilism and the need for a revaluation of values, conceptions of
the self, the will to power, the eternal recurrence of the same, and so on. It will bring Nietzsche
into rapport with other 19th century thinkers on a core topic or set of topics, including Marx
(naturalism and humanism), Schopenhauer (pessimism), Emerson (perfectionism), and
Kierkegaard (individualism). Students will be encouraged to engage with primary material and
with relevant secondary literature from both analytical and continental traditions of Nietzsche-
interpretation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• understand Nietzsche’s key ideas and the contribution they make to areas of philosophical inquiry, and be able to provide critical responses to his ideas.
• isolate the important claims within readings, understand the structure of arguments, test views for strengths and weaknesses, make pertinent use of examples, and compare the substance of views consistently.

Indicative reading list

The primary text used for the course will be The Nietzsche Reader published by Wiley-Blackwell
(2006) and edited by Ansell-Pearson and Large. Helpful introductions to Nietzsche include
established texts by the translators Walter Kaufmann (Nietzsche, fourth edition) and R J
Hollingdale (Nietzsche: The Man and His Philosophy). There is also a helpful edited collection
entitled 'Nietzsche' edited by Brian Leiter and John Richardson (Oxford University Press).
Similarly, for other thinkers looked at in the course students will be directed to useful selections
of writings (such as Schopenhauer's 'Essays and Aphorisms', published by Penguin, or 'The
Portable Emerson', published by Penguin).

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

• close-reading and textual analysis of primary source materials (i.e. Nietzsche’s writings and those of philosophers related to his context), and independent research and assessment of secondary source materials
• organisation and articulation of independent responses to the subject matter in written and oral forms
• construction and defence of critical stances and arguments

Transferable skills

• comprehension and analysis of complex and nuanced written communications
• oral and written communication of independent responses to a range of materials
• presentation of well-reasoned argument in support of a conclusion