Nietzsche and Classical Greek Philosophy: Beautiful and Diseased

(Hardback)

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Nietzsche and Classical Greek Philosophy: Beautiful and Diseased explains Friedrich Nietzsches ambivalence toward Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Daw-Nay N. R. Evans Jr. argues that Nietzsches relationship to his classical Greek predecessors is more subtle and systematic than previously believed. He contends that Nietzsches seemingly personal attacks on his philosophical rivals hide philosophically sophisticated disputes that deserve greater attention. Evans demonstrates how Nietzsches encounters with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle reveal the philosophical influence they exercised on Nietzsches thought and the philosophical problems that he sought to address through those encounters. Having illustrated Nietzsches ambivalence Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, Evans draws on Nietzsches admiration for Heraclitus as a counterpoint to Plato to suggest that the classical Greek philosophers are just as important to Nietzsches thought as their pre-Socratic precursors. This book will appeal to those interested in continental philosophy, ancient philosophy, and German studies.

Reviews

In his original and thought-provoking study, Daw-Nay Evans takes on a crucial area of Nietzsche studies, namely, Nietzsches relationship to classical Greek philosophy and offers the reader an illuminating examination of human reason, freedom, and passions. Evans provides a generous and hermeneutically sophisticated reading not only of Nietzsche, but also of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Heraclitus.Anyone seeking to understand Nietzsches debt to the ancients should read this book. -- Elizabeth Millan, Professor of Philosophy, DePaul University
Daw-Nay Evans breaks exciting new ground in the enormously fruitful earth of Nietzsches classicism. His arguments are precise, creative and new; his writing is splendid; in the spirit of Nietzsche, he is willing to take risks. I recommend this book with the greatest enthusiasm to both the Nietzsche scholar and the general reader. -- Clancy Martin, University of Missouri

Author Bio

Daw-Nay N. R. Evans Jr. is assistant professor of philosophy and African American studies at Lake Forest College.