Nietzsche's Utile Philosophy of History

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Nietzsche's Utile Philosophy of History

History, contends Nietzsche, is not something to be wholly embraced for its own sake, but something which when used in moderation to further the activity of man motivates his life towards justice. Always, though, history must serve life and never the converse. To lead a healthy and happy life, man must be capable not only of historical though but also of unhistorical thought; Nietzsche likens the superhistorical being who never forgets to one who cannot sleep. Such a one is doomed to unhappiness because happiness requires one to forget that his happiness will not endure. From this Nietzsche derives the claim that "all acting requires forgetting (10)." Furthermore, only through this unhistorical forgetting can humanity grow.

Providing guidance to those striving for action, history is an essential tool of human progress. Nietzsche distinguishes between three overlapping types of history: monumental, antiquarian, and critical. Just as the domination of any one of these corrupts the historical practice, the total absence of one leaves ...

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