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The Undergraduate Research Journal

Abstract

In contrast to mainstream philosophy, this paper argues that Nietzsche’s philosophy allies itself with Kantian thought despite his explicit resentment towards Kant’s emphasis on metaphysical interpretations of morals. Although Nietzsche’s criticisms towards Kantian philosophy are motivated by his attempts to originally as well as creatively distinguish his thought towards morality from Kant’s metaphysical assertions, it could be argued that Nietzsche’s fear from the advent of nihilism requires a transcendentalist framework to regain value for existentialist concerns. The first section of this paper will argue that Nietzsche’s claims against Kant are nothing more than a broader concealment of Nietzsche’s admiration for Kant’s metaphysical groundings of morality. Yet a discussion on the differences between both respective philosophers must first be held so as to give the readers background on what their thoughts are concerning morality. The second section will try to relate Nietzsche’s proclamation of the “death of God” with Kant’s emphasis on the categorical imperative. Finally, the third section will try to convey that Nietzsche’s theory of the will to power could be ontologically understood through transcendentalism, namely through the Kantian emphasis on transcendental idealism

Document Type

Essay

Department

Sociology, Egyptology & Anthropology Department

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

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