An Introduction to Nietzsche as Political Thinker: The Perfect Nihilist

This is a lively and engaging introduction to the contentious topic of Nietzsche’s political thought. It traces the development of Nietzsche’s thinking on politics from his earliest writings to the mature work in which he advocates aristocratic radicalism as opposed to ‘petty’ European nationalism. The key ideas of the will to power, eternal return and the overman are discussed and all Nietzsche’s major works analysed in detail, such as Beyond Good and Evil and The Genealogy of Morals, within the context of the concerns of modern political theory. The book concludes with an assessment of Nietzsche’s enduring relevance and of the insights afforded by contemporary liberal and feminist readings. This textbook will be essential for all students of Nietzsche and of the history of political ideas. It includes a chronology of Nietzsche’s life and works and a guide to further reading.

• First student introduction to Nietzsche’s poltical thought • Puts Nietzsche in context of modern political concerns and ideas, and tackles appropriation of Nietzsche by the Nazis • Includes discussion of feminist readings of Nietzsche and readings by contemporary liberals, including Rorty

Chronology; Introduction; Note on Nietzsche and Liberalism; Part I. The Question of Nietzsche: 1. A question of style? An introduction to reading Nietzsche; 2. Nietzsche’s legacy; Part II. Ancients and Moderns: 3. Nietzsche and the Greeks: culture versus politics; 4. Nietzsche on modern politics; Part III. Man and Overman: 5. Zarathustra’s teaching of the overman; 6. A genealogy of morals; 7. O humanity! Nietzsche on great politics; Part IV. The Question of Nietzsche Now: 8. Nietzsche and contemporary Liberalism; 9. Nietzsche and feminism; 10. The perfect nihilist.