Nietzsche and Buddhism: How One Becomes What One Is

(Hardback)

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The claim that Nietzsche was aware of Buddhist, Vedic, or Eastern thought more generally is uncontroversial. However, any stronger claims about the sphere of influence remain niche in Nietzsche studies. Any non-Western flavors in Nietzsches writings are most often considered ornamental and wholly unnecessary in the quest to interpret what Nietzsche means. To the contrary, in Nietzsche and Buddhism: How One Becomes What One Is, Sarah Jacob argues that Nietzsches work is further illuminated when seen as an endeavor that seriously engages with Buddhist ontology, and that Nietzsches philosophy marks a paradigm shift in Western thought because of this encounter. Though the second half of this book offers a thorough comparative analysis between Nietzsche and Buddhism, its validity rests upon the often understated importance of Indian thought for German intellectuals prior to and during Nietzsches life. Indeed, the author argues that Nietzsches philosophy of the future should be recognized as a transcultural contribution to the history of ideas, one that has import for the perplexed global zeitgeist in the twenty-first century.

Author Bio

Sarah Jacob is associate professor of philosophy at Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida, USA.