SUMMARY/COMMENTARY WHEN READING THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA

PHIL -- FALL (I) 2001

Bob Corbett, instructor

Meets: 1 - 3 PM.

THE ASSIGNMENT

• The paper is exactly two pages; no more no less.
• The margins required are quite strict: no more than a single inch on all four borders, top, bottom, two sides.
• Paper must be in either 10 pt. or 12 pt. type.
• This paper is much like the three papers you've already written on TOWARD A GENEALOGY OF MORALS with just a few differences.
• Page one is a summary of ONE central ARGUMENT. Please note. This is NOT a summary of the text. It is a summary of central ARGUMENTS. These two notions are extremely different. Nietzsche is especially difficult in that he often does not write in typical philosophical arguments, but writes poetically, imagetically, intuitively. That's fine, and he is a genius at this style. But, this very style makes him difficult to understand and many readers take an easy way out and just report to themselves or others (truly) that Nietzsche "says" or "believes" this or that. Any they just report on the text, citing specially exciting lines or concepts. This is simply not philosophical analysis. The much tougher task is to re-organize Nietzsche's thoughts into CLAIMS HE MAKES, and then ARGUMENTS (REASONS) HE GIVES FOR THESE CLAIMS.

  This one page summary is precisely this. You must choose the most KEY SINGLE thesis of the whole book, name it in a single sentence each, then make clear the argument Nietzsche has to show that this thesis is so.

• This is a difficult choice. You have before you an entire book. Do not range around dabbling with a few lines on this and that. You must FOCUS on one thesis which you are claiming is, if not the single most important philosophical thesis in the book, then ONE of them. This is not about YOU; not what you LIKE best. Rather, it is a claim about the philosophical significance of this book. It is expected that you have scholarly imput in your decision from Hollingdale's treatment and the views of other scholars. However, the paper should never really USE their work or even mention them. But it should be informed by them.

  In this summary section there should not be one single word of evaluation or criticism. Just tell us Nietzsche's THESIS and the ARGUMENTS for that thesis.

• Page two is a reflection paper by you of analysis, criticism, philosophical stretching to make sense of and engage Nietzsche. THIS PAGE IS NOT ABOUT YOU. It is about the ideas and issues. Thus things like: I believe this or that; or I feel this; or I am reminded of this or that IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT THIS PAGE IS ABOUT. Nietzsche makes claims about the WORLD not about himself. What he says is rationally plausible about the world or it is not. You must engage Nietzsche's ideas philosophically, not personally at the subjective level. Again, this paper is a reflection on the sense, truth, intelligibility of Nietzsche, not about you and your feelings.

  This is an extremely short one page. Concentrate on as significant a set of philosophical reflections as you can and emphasize those things which are philosophically most important and most central to Nietzsche as a philosopher as you can. DO NOT use a shot-gun approach of "comments" on this or that. Focus. A single notion well developed is the ideal model.

It is expected and taken for granted (and will be reflected in the grade), that you are university level students writing at a university level of English using standard forms of grammar, spelling and form.

The grades on the papers will reflect the depth and philosophical significance of what you write more than any other factor.

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