Date of Award
1-6-2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Dr. Jessica Berry
Second Advisor
Dr. Eric Wilson
Third Advisor
Dr. Andrew Altman
Abstract
Moral philosophers like Martha Nussbaum, Philippa Foot, and Michael Weber argue for what I call the “Neo-Stoic Reading” of Nietzsche, which includes two claims: first, Nietzsche allegedly recommends the relentless pursuit of self-interest at the expense of other persons; second, he denies empathy any major role in the ethical life. I will argue that the Neo-Stoic view misses an important unifying theme in Nietzsche’s ethics and his criticism of morality—his investment in the value of honor—and that Nietzsche’s ethical recommendations involving empathy and even altruism can be better understood by situating them within an historical tradition of honor-based ethics.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/9004710
Recommended Citation
Ganesh, Akshay, "Nietzsche on Honor and Empathy." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2017.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/9004710