Reading Nietzsche Rhetorically

by Douglas Thomas

Friedrich Nietzsche is among the most controversial and broadly interpreted figures in the history of contemporary theory. His work is remarkable for the manner in which it resists and disrupts the Western philosophical tradition, illuminating the ways that language creates, defines, and deforms our perspective of being in the world. Focusing on Nietzsche's masterful use of diverse rhetorical strategies and techniques, this book shows how coming to terms with Nietzsche's style is central to understanding his thought. What Nietzsche demands of his readers, Thomas proposes, is an interaction with his texts that goes beyond any surface level of meaning to the level of feeling, mood, and emotion. Examining a range of Nietzsche's writings, and culminating in a reading of THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY, the book explores how Nietzsche's provocative and playful use of language enables him not only to challenge accepted metaphysical truths, but also to reinvigorate rhetoric itself as an alternative means of generating meaning and value.

Genres: Philosophy

198 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 1998

Reviews

[Tylor Lovins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anytime the work of a philosopher is explored, the exploration is guided by the temperament and intellectual capacity of the explorer. In this case, it is an especially salient fact. Douglas Thomas has written quite possibly the least interesting book about Nietzsche published to-date. This book seems like it was adapted from a dissertation. The writing is so dull, I imagine Thomas as a typical professional academic, where the requirements of the mind to create a coherent and logical conceptual scheme are so onerous that they have restricted his personality to its most rudimentary functions, generating the desires to eat, sleep, and, God help those around when this occurred, to "socialize," once every few months. As a result, the author's linguistic ability is like that of a computer program that cannot actually use language but superficially resembles one who can. The many quotes he pulls from Nietzsche especially contribute to this perception.

This would be all okay if it weren't for the fact that the point of Douglas's book is to explain how Nietzsche used rhetoric as an opposing method to the method of metaphysics for establishing values. When Douglas himself uses the style (the style of metaphysical representation) he claims Nietzsche attempted to blow to hell to convince the reader that Nietzsche was trying to blow it to hell, how am I supposed to believe the author has really what he is trying to claim; by what evidence am I supposed to believe his wider claims about Nietzsche? Is this book a joke?

Anyway, if you can find a SparkNotes version or outline, I'd certainly recommend that. Save yourself and never read this soul-snatching book.