Date of Award
Fall 12-14-2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Dr. Jessica Berry
Second Advisor
Dr. Eddy Nahmias
Third Advisor
Dr. Andrew Altman
Abstract
Brian Leiter is one of the few Nietzsche interpreters who argue that Nietzsche rejects all forms of free will. Leiter argues that Nietzsche is an incompatibilist and rejects libertarian free will. He further argues that since Nietzsche is an epiphenomenalist about conscious willing, his philosophy of action cannot support any conception of free will. Leiter also offers deflationary readings of those passages where Nietzsche seemingly ascribes free will to historical figures or types. In this paper I argue against all of these conclusions. In the first section I show that, on the most charitable interpretation, Nietzsche is not an epiphenomenalist. In the second section I trace Nietzsche’s alleged incompatibilism through three of his works and offer reasons to be skeptical of the claim that Nietzsche was a committed incompatibilist. Finally, I argue that Nietzsche is not being sarcastic or unacceptably revisionary when he makes positive ascriptions of free will.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/2180278
Recommended Citation
Russell, Bryan T., "Consciousness, Self-Control, and Free Will in Nietzsche." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2011.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/2180278