Nietzsche's and Dewey's contextual challenge to value theory
Lurie, Yotam
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/22628
Description
Title
Nietzsche's and Dewey's contextual challenge to value theory
Author(s)
Lurie, Yotam
Issue Date
1996
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Schacht, Richard L.
Department of Study
Philosophy
Discipline
Philosophy
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Philosophy
Language
eng
Abstract
The historical context of this project is situated at the intersection of post-Kantian European philosophy and American Pragmatism as it concentrates on the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and John Dewey. Nietzsche and Dewey are two of the most significant figures in post-Kantian value theory, and they cast a long shadow both within and beyond the philosophical discussion. The focal point of this project however is not merely to draw historical parallels between Nietzsche's and Dewey's views, but rather to work out the common space that is created and shared by these figures within the realm of value theory. By weaving together the thought of Nietzsche and Dewey it explores their common contextual outlook regarding the sources of values; a view which presents an important challenge to traditional philosophical ways of thinking about values.
Traditional ways thinking about values are essentialist. They emphasize detachment from the contingencies of context. In contrast Nietzsche and Dewey stress the thoroughly contextual nature of values systems. They show that values have to do with concrete social and historical situatedness and not with an abstract or universal world. Noting the complex interrelationships between different domains of values, they dispute the idea that beliefs about what is valuable can be grounded by reference to absolute givens or a-historical principles. This is part of what makes their conception of values non-foundational (and hence at least implicitly non-metaphysical). More specifically, Nietzsche's and Dewey's brand of contextualism can be characterized as being both interpretive and naturalistic.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
