Universität Wien

180149 SE Friedrich Nietzsche and Indian Philosophy (2014W)

Zarathustra, the counter-ideal to the ascetic ideal

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 45 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 07.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 14.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 21.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 28.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 04.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 11.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 18.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 25.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 02.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 09.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 16.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 13.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 20.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 27.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This semester we will analyze the relation of Nietzsche to Indian Philosophy. First of all we will read and comment the passages in Nietzsche’s work which comprehend
explicit references to Indian philosophies. Due to the historical fact that Nietzsche’s image of Indian Philosophy is strongly influenced by Schopenhauer and his friend Paul Deussen,
one of the leading Sanskrit scholars of their time, we will also have a close look on Nietzsche’s relation to these two authors. Both of them favored the ascetic traditions of
Indian Philosophy. Therefor it is no surprise that Nietzsche, in his “Genealogy of Morals” called Shankara’s Vedanta philosophy a kind of prototype for any ascetic approach toward philosophy. In the same text Nietzsche calls us to create a counter-ideal to the classic ascetic ideal of doing philosophy. Is Zarathustra, the representative of Nietzsche’s counter-ideal, therefore necessarily an enemy of all Indian Philosophies?

Assessment and permitted materials

Oral presentation (20 Minutes), seminar text (about 10 pages), participation in the discussions of the seminar and regular presence.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

1. Introduction in Indian Philosophy, in particular in Shankara’s Vedanta philosophy and Deussen’s interpretation of the System of Vedanta.
2. Introduction in Nietzsche’s philosophy, emphasizing his reading of Indian Philosophy.
3. Analysis of the influence of Indian Philosophy on Nietzsche’s work.
4. Tracing Nietzsche’s image of Indian Philosophy
5. At the end of the semester all participants of the seminar should have a clear understanding of the decisive problems, Nietzsche was struggling
with in his reading of Indian Philosophy.

Examination topics

Close reading of relevant text passages in the work of Nietzsche, Deussen and relevant literature, mentioned below.

Reading list

Paul Deussen: Allgemeine Geschichte der Philosophie. Der Vedānta des Çañkara; S. 579-614 [wird auf Moodle bereit gestellt]
Paul Deussen, Das System des Vedānta. Nach den Brahma-Sūtra's des Badarayana und dem Kommentare des Çañkara über dieselben, Leibzig: Brockhaus 1883. [Wird auf Moodle bereit gestellt]
Nietzsche, Friedrich: Sämtliche Werke, Kritische Studienausgabe, hg. Giorgio Colli und Mazzino Montinari, DTV: München, Berlin, New York Oktober 1980.
Nietzsche Soorce online: http://www.nietzschesource.org/

Association in the course directory

BA M 8.2

Last modified: Sa 10.09.2022 00:19