Nietzsche's Forgotten Spirit: Woman in Nietzsche's Philosophy (thesis)

Abstract

In this thesis, I will attempt first to show how some major themes in Nietzsche's philosophy such as the rejection of dualisms and capital-T truths make room for an interpretation that suggests many of the same ideas that have become central to contemporary feminism such as the embracing of a multiplicity of types as opposed to standard dualistic understandings of gender and a move toward self-definition. Secondly, I will turn to the major passages in Nietzsche's works that address issues surrounding "woman" directly and do a close reading in an attempt to show that Nietzsche's philosophy allows for a feminist interpretation that counters the immediate negative reaction readers might have when first reading Nietzsche. [From Introduction]