Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Irving M. Copi, Brad W. Hooker and Friedrich Nietzsche

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6 ideas

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 2. Realism
We can't be realists, because we don't know what being is [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: One would have to know what being is in order to decide whether this or that is real - but we don't know that.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 02[87])
     A reaction: Nietzsche is a genius - he puts his finger on something which has always bothered me about realism, even though I call myself a 'realist'. Being and existence are utterly indefinable, and even incomprehensible, so what do we realists believe in?
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism
The grounds for an assertion that the world is only apparent actually establish its reality [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: The grounds upon which 'this' world has been designated as apparent establish rather its reality - another kind of reality is absolutely undemonstrable.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 2.6)
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 5. Naturalism
I only want thinking that is anchored in body, senses and earth [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: I am not interested …in ways of thinking that are not anchored in the body and the senses and in the earth.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1884-85 [1884], 26[352])
     A reaction: Exhibit A for Nietzsche as Naturalist. Indeed, this could be a manifesto for the whole school. I totally and completely and utterly agree with Nietzsche's assertion!. I see the 'anchor' as two-way: thought connects to earth, and thought arises from it.
First see nature as non-human, then fit ourselves into this view of nature [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: My task is the dehumanisation of nature, and then the naturalisation of humanity once it has attained the pure concept of 'nature'.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885], 9.525), quoted by Rüdiger Safranski - Nietzsche: a philosophical biography 10
     A reaction: Safranski sees this as summarising Nietzsche's project, and it could be a mission statement for naturalism. This idea pinpoints why I take Nietzsche to be important - as a pioneer of the naturalistic view of people.
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 8. Facts / e. Facts rejected
There are no facts in themselves, only interpretations [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: Against positivism, which halts at phenomena, and says "there are only facts", I would say: No, facts is precisely what there is not, only interpretations.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §481)
     A reaction: A cornerstone of relativism is the denial of facts. A cornerstone of realism is the affirmation of facts. Personally, I affirm facts.
There are no 'facts-in-themselves', since a sense must be projected into them to make them 'facts' [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: There are no 'facts-in-themselves', for a sense must always be projected into them before they can be 'facts'.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §556)
     A reaction: The relativist (and anti-realist) view. Any attempt at taking this proposal seriously induces a hopeless vertigo, a well known consequence of reading Nietzsche. I don't believe this. It is not to my taste.