Nietzsche contra Stoicism: Naturalism and Value, Suffering and Amor Fati

Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 62 (1):93-115 (2019)
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Abstract

Nietzsche criticizes Stoicism for overstating the significance of its ethical ideal of rational self-sufficiency and for undervaluing pain and passion when pursuing an unconditional acceptance of fate. Apparent affinities between Stoicism and Nietzsche’s philosophy, especially his celebration of self-mastery and his pursuit of amor fati, lead some scholars to conclude that Nietzsche cannot advance these criticisms without contradicting himself. In this article, I narrow the target and scope of Nietzsche’s complaints against Stoicism before showing how they follow from his other philosophic commitments. I suggest that the first line of criticism follows from his denial of teleology and his skepticism toward moral values’ descriptive objectivity. I then suggest that the second line of criticism follows from Nietzsche’s account of overcoming as bestowing contributory value upon pain and suffering. Explaining Nietzsche’s criticisms of Stoicism in this way substantially qualifies similarities between his philosophy and that of Stoicism while absolving him of the charge of inconsistency.

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Author's Profile

James Mollison
Purdue University

References found in this work

The affirmation of life: Nietzsche on overcoming nihilism.Bernard Reginster - 2006 - Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Nietzsche on Morality.Brian Leiter - 2002/2014 - New York: Routledge.
Nietzsche on Morality.Brian Leiter - 2005 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 71 (3):729-740.

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