[lit-ideas] Re: Erin's Course Dilemma

  • From: "Phil Enns" <phil.enns@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <palma@xxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 19:31:12 -0500

Yes.

Phil Enns
Toronto, ON

-----Original Message-----
From: palma@xxxxxxxx [mailto:palma@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 7:25 PM
To: Phil Enns
Cc: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [lit-ideas] Re: Erin's Course Dilemma


won't help. is it true that it is accurate?


On Tue, 18 Jan 2005, Phil Enns
wrote:

> No.  It is accurate.
>
> Phil Enns
> Toronto, ON
>
>
> palma@xxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> is this true?
>
> On Tue, 18 Jan 2005, Phil Enns wrote:
>
> > Nietzsche rejects Truth as an absolute that stands apart from any
> > particular context or perspective.  That is, Nietzsche is rejecting
> the
> > notion that because something is true it is necessarily true for
> > everyone.  According to Nietzsche, science is the finest expression
of
> > this absolute notion of Truth.
> >
> > "To make it possible for this discipline [i.e. science] to begin,
must
> > there not be some prior conviction - even one that is so commanding
> and
> > unconditional that it sacrifices all other convictions to itself?
We
> > see that science also rests on a faith; there simply is no science
> > 'without presuppositions.'  The question whether truth is needed
must
> > not only have been affirmed in advance, but affirmed to such a
degree
> > that the principle, the faith, the conviction finds expression:
> 'Nothing
> > is needed more than truth, and in relation to it everything else has
> > only second-rate value.'" (Nietzsche, _The Gay Science_ §344)
> >
> > And yet life is full of deceptions, illusions and lies, so that the
> > decision to affirm truth to such a degree cannot be based on any
> > calculation of utility (How would one measure the utility of truth
> > against deception?) but is itself a moral decision.
> >
> > "Consequently, 'will to truth' does not mean 'I will not allow
myself
> to
> > be deceived' but - there is no alternative - 'I will not deceive,
not
> > even myself'; and with that we stand on moral ground.  For you only
> have
> > to ask yourself carefully, 'Why do you not want to deceive?'
> especially
> > if it should seem - and it does seem! - as if life aimed at
semblance,
> > meaning error, deception, simulation, delusion, self-delusion, and
> when
> > the great sweep of life has actually always shown itself to be on
the
> > side of the most unscrupulous polytropoi." (Nietzsche, _The Gay
> Science_
> > §344)
> >
> > As an alternative, Nietzsche affirms truth as an expression of a
life,
> > or a kind of life.
> >
> > "What life does require is belief in truth, but illusion is
sufficient
> > for this.  That is to say, 'truths' do not establish themselves by
> means
> > of logical proofs, but by means of their effects: proofs of
strength.
> > The true and the effective are taken to be identical; here too one
> > submits to force.  How then is one to explain the fact that any
> logical
> > demonstration of truth occurred at all?  In the struggle between
> 'truth'
> > and 'truth' both sides seek an alliance with reflection.  All actual
> > striving for truth has come into the world through the struggle for
a
> > holy conviction - through the pathos of the struggle."  (Nietzsche,
> "The
> > Philosopher" §47)
> >
> > For Nietzsche, then, truth is not something that can be rejected or
> > denied.  Nietzsche acknowledges that he himself is driven by the
fire
> > lit by the Christian faith where truth is divine!  (_The Gay
Science_
> > §344)  Life requires truth but different forms of life will express
> that
> > truth differently.
> >
> > "Most of the conscious thinking of a philosopher is secretly guided
> and
> > forced into certain channels by his instincts.  Behind all logic and
> its
> > seeming sovereignty of movement, too, there stand valuations or,
more
> > clearly, physiological demands for the preservation of a certain
type
> of
> > life.  For example, that the definite should be worth more than the
> > indefinite, and mere appearance worth less than 'truth' ..."
(_Beyond
> > Good and Evil_ §3)
> >
> > It makes no sense to claim that Nietzsche rejects truth, since any
> such
> > claim would be an obvious performative contradiction.  Instead
Michael
> > Chase would have been better off asking what claims about truth
> > Nietzsche is rejecting.  Nietzsche rejects any attempt to absolutize
> > Truth, that is, to set it apart from life.  In the place of this
> > absolute Truth, Nietzsche locates truth as in the service of life.
> Here
> > is where Nietzsche and Derrida differ.  For Derrida, truth is what
> makes
> > human life possible.  For both Nietzsche and Derrida, truth is
> > inescapable.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Phil Enns
> > Toronto, ON
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>   Ratio, enim, nisi judex universalis esse deberet, frustra singulis
> datur.
>
>   [ _Quaestiones Naturales_, Adelard of Bath ]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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  Ratio, enim, nisi judex universalis esse deberet, frustra singulis
datur.

  [ _Quaestiones Naturales_, Adelard of Bath ]








/begin/read__>sig.file
postal address
 PALMA



Department of Philosophy ? Duke University/ BOX 90743
room# 205 -tel 1 919 660-3065  201 West Duke Building Durham, North
Carolina 27708-0743

my mobile 9195997065



















*only when in Europe*
 i. J. Nicod
off. address
I jean nicod
1bis av. lowendal

f-75007 paris france

email me for details if needed



landline [+33] (0)1 42 71 63 00
w/ answering service
mobileline [+33] (0) 663 243 161
w/ sms, sims, and all that jazz





________

This e-mail message (and attachments) is confidential, and/or privileged
and is
intended for the use of the addressee only.  If you are not the intended
recipient of this e-mail you must not copy, distribute, take any action
in
reliance on it or disclose it to anyone.  Any confidentiality or
privilege is
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entity.  If you
have received this e-mail in error please destroy the original and
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