Nietzsche's Naturalism
Philosophy and the Life Sciences in the Nineteenth Century

This book examines Nietzsche's philosophical naturalism both historically and philosophically, establishing a link between his discussions of nature and normativity.

Christian J. Emden (Author)

9781107059634, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 May 2014

263 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

'Christian J. Emden has written the book on Nietzsche's biological naturalism which many of us have been waiting for. Situating Nietzsche's later work amidst the shifting currents of nineteenth-century cell theory, embryology, neo-Kantianism, and evolutionary thought brings out new philosophical complexity and depth in his genealogical project, and reinforces Nietzsche's relevance to philosophy today.' Joseph Rouse, Wesleyan University, Connecticut

This book explores Nietzsche's philosophical naturalism in its historical context, showing that his position is best understood against the background of encounters between neo-Kantianism and the life sciences in the nineteenth century. Analyzing most of Nietzsche's writings from the late 1860s onwards, Christian J. Emden reconstructs Nietzsche's naturalism and argues for a new understanding of his account of nature and normativity. Emden proposes historical reasons why Nietzsche came to adopt the position he did; his genealogy of values and his account of a will to power are as much influenced by Kantian thought as they are by nineteenth-century debates on teleology, biological functions, and theories of evolution. This rich and wide-ranging study will be of interest to scholars and students of Nietzsche, the history of modern philosophy, intellectual history, and history of science.

Introduction
Part I. Varieties of Philosophical Naturalism: 1. Introduction
2. The neo-Kantian stance
3. Nietzsche's 'anti-Darwinism'?
4. Psychology, experiment, and scientific practice
5. Three kinds of naturalism
Part II. Evolution and the Limits of Teleology: 6. Introduction
7. Problems with purpose
8. The politics of progress
9. Naturalizing Kant
10. Genealogy and path dependence
Part III. Genealogy, Nature, and Normativity: 11. Introduction
12. 'Darwinism's' metaphysical mistake
13. Living things and the will to power
14. Toward a natural history of normativity
15. 'Naturalism in morality'
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], History of ideas [JFCX], Western philosophy, from c 1900 - [HPCF], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD]