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PH334-15 Nietzsche in Context

Department
Philosophy
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
David Bather Woods
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

N/A

Module aims

To provide students with an advanced introduction to the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and in relation to one or more of the following relevant 19th century thinkers: Feuerbach, Marx, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Emerson.

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

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 2 hours (12%)
Seminars 8 sessions of 1 hour (5%)
Private study 124 hours (83%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group A3
Weighting Study time
Essay (2500 words) 80%

2500 word essay

500 word exercise 10%
500 word exercise 10%
Feedback on assessment

Feedback on essays will be provided on the coversheet for the essay, addressing standard areas
of evaluation and individual content.

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations
  • UPHA-V700 Undergraduate Philosophy
    • Year 2 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 2 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 3 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 3 of V700 Philosophy
  • Year 4 of UPHA-V701 Undergraduate Philosophy (wiith Intercalated year)
  • Year 4 of UPHA-V702 Undergraduate Philosophy (with Work Placement)
  • UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 2 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 3 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
  • UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
  • UPHA-V7MM Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MQ Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite) with Intercalated Year
    • Year 4 of V7MH Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Philosophy Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MF Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Politics Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MI Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Economics Bipartite (Philosophy Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MJ Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Politics Bipartite (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MG Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Politics/Economics Bipartite (Politics Major) (with Intercalated year)

This module is Core option list A for:

  • UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
  • Year 3 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations

This module is Core option list B for:

  • UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
  • Year 2 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations

This module is Core option list C for:

  • Year 4 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations

This module is Option list A for:

  • UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
    • Year 2 of VL78 Philosophy with Psychology
    • Year 3 of VL78 Philosophy with Psychology
  • Year 4 of UPHA-VL79 BA in Philosophy with Psychology (with Intercalated year)
  • UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 3 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
  • UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations
    • Year 3 of GV19 Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations
    • Year 4 of GV19 Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
  • UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
  • UMAA-GV18 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
    • Year 2 of GV18 Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
    • Year 2 of GV18 Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
  • UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 2 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 3 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
  • Year 4 of UPHA-VQ73 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature with Intercalated Year

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 3 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
  • Year 4 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)

This module is Option list E for:

  • UPHA-V7MW Undergraduate Politics, Philosophy and Law
    • Year 2 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law
    • Year 2 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law