Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD student of Philosophy, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch
2 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch
3 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch
Abstract
A prominent concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche is “will to power” which is proposed as an alternative against metaphysical thinking. Nietzsche’s thought is a new interpretation of the modern human’s social and individual life. Nietzsche criticized metaphysical thinking tradition as it ends up in nihilism. The very criticism in its final analysis has resulted in the emergence of new interpretations of the concepts “knowledge” and “truth”. Nietzsche goes back to the ancient Greek thought and regards knowledge as imposing the will to power upon reality. Truth is not then a fixed absolute idea, but is regarded as a productive, plural entity that can be used as a useful mythology with a regulative function for meeting human needs. Will to power as the artist overcomes nihilism through a return to the nature, self-command and his creativity power and shapes the constitutive elements of life and says yes to it. As to this meaning, truth is not anything but the will to power. Some thinkers like Martin Heidegger believe that Nietzsche intends to go beyond the metaphysics and systematic thinking but brings metaphysics to its zenith with his extreme subjectivism. According to this view, Nietzsche provides a systematic thought with his will to power, eternal return and reassessment of values, and his radical criticisms are true about himself in the first place and ultimately challenge his own ideas.
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