Single Idea 7183

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 3. Subjectivism]

Full Idea

'Everything is subjective', you say: but that itself is an interpretation, for the 'subject' is not something given but a fiction added on, tucked behind. Even the interpreter behind the interpretation is a fiction, hypothesis.

Gist of Idea

'Subjectivity' is an interpretation, since subjects (and interpreters) are fictions

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 07[60])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.139


A Reaction

How glorious to even suggest that the subjective account of knowledge is making too many assumptions! If modern students of philosophy were to meet Nietzsche, they would be reduced to the response of Cratylus (Idea 578).

Related Idea

Idea 578 Cratylus decided speech was hopeless, and his only expression was the movement of a finger [Cratylus, by Aristotle]