Morality as Cure and Poison in Nietzsche's Genealogy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2022
Department
Philosophy and Religion
School
Humanities
Abstract
Nietzsche argues in the Genealogy of Morality (GM) that key aspects of modern European morality arose as “cures” for widespread human sickness but are ultimately making us sicker (“poisoning” us). This article provides a systematic overview of how Nietzsche believes morality has functioned as a cure and poison for European humanity. Drawing on my own previous work on Nietzsche's concept of health, I sketch an overview of the (1) sickness(es), (2) treatments, and (3) pathogeneses discussed in each of the three treatises in terms of a single (and plausible) concept of health. The result is a systematic interpretive overview of the core polemical argument in GM.
Publication Title
The Journal of Nietzsche Studies
Volume
53
Issue
1
First Page
34
Last Page
58
Recommended Citation
Dunkle, I. D.
(2022). Morality as Cure and Poison in Nietzsche's Genealogy. The Journal of Nietzsche Studies, 53(1), 34-58.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19928