Nietzsche, Biology and Metaphor

by Gregory Moore

This study explores the German philosopher's response to the intellectual debates sparked by the publication of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. By examining the abundance of biological metaphors in Nietzsche's writings, Gregory Moore questions his recent reputation as an eminently subversive and post modern thinker. The book analyzes key themes of Nietzsche's thought--his critique of morality, his philosophy of art and the Übermensch--in the light of the theory of evolution, the nineteenth-century sense of decadence and the rise of anti-Semitism.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 1998

Reviews

[Tomislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview of biological and physiological themes in Nietzsche’s work. The author explains Nietzsche’s interest in biology, the influence of contemporary scientists - Haeckel, Roux, Rolph, Galton - on his work, his attitude toward Darwinism, fascination with eugenics, caste systems and racial theories. The books lists, explains and puts in context scientific literature that Nietzsche read.

Nietzsche often resorted to biological explanations to support his philosophical views. His cultural criticisms also had underlying biological and physiological themes. Acknowledging Nietzsche’s deep interest in biology and physiology is important to understand his work correctly, since postmodernists often distort his philosophy by downplaying his biological determinism and dismissing many of his unpopular ideas as unserious provocations and metaphors.

It is quite a short book and, somewhat arbitrarily, it doesn’t give the same attention to all biological themes in Nietzsche work, but it gives a fair overview of his thought and it doesn’t try to downplay his more extreme opinions. The concluding chapter is quite strange since it doesn’t really provide any meaningful final thoughts and it contains unusually lengthy discussion of several authors that weren’t event mentioned in the prior text. It’s not a great book, there are some weaker parts, but it’s definitely worth reading if you’re interested in the subject, it gives useful background and context to Nietzsche’s biologism.

[Frank Kool · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nietzsche's biologism is thus a double edged sword. On the one hand, biology is a subversive weapon in his unholy war against the values of Judaeo-Christianity; on the other, it actually undermines his project of the transvaluation of all values, legitimating those nineteenth century prejudices and attitudes from which he was unable (or unwilling) to liberate himself." (p. 194)

Normally I abhor writing in my books but I had to break out the colored markers for this one. Nietzsche, Biology and Metaphor is a fantastic read from start to finish. Everything about it just hits the Goldilocks sweet spot: it uses the big words without ever seeming pretentious or overtly academic, and it doesn't excuse the problematic elements of Nietzsche's philosophy while also placing it in both its historical and personal context.
I highly recommend this book for people who are looking for an in-depth study into what position Nietzsche takes in the fin de siècle debate about the connection between biology, race, religion, and culture.

[Michel · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Beni bir sen anladın, sen de yanlış anladın Gregory Moore" (Human All too Human, Aphorism 46, Nietzsche).