Overview

Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morals has become a central text for understanding the thinker and his impact on moral philosophy. Yet his account of the rise of political society and its relation to morality has generally been overlooked, in large part because of its strange and often confusing character. In The Rise of Politics and Morality in Nietzsche’s Genealogy: From Chaos to Conscience, Jeffrey Metzger devotes careful attention to Nietzsche’s analysis of the origin of political society in the Second Essay and its intertwining with the development of morality and religion. Focused on how that account places Nietzsche’s understanding of humanity in his larger conceptions of nature and the will to power, the book further considers how Nietzsche grounds his thought in the world as he presents it, and the strengths and weaknesses of Nietzsche’s approach to this crucial moment in human development. This book will interest philosophers, political theorists, and anyone else interested in Nietzsche and his contribution to our understanding of how we became human.

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9781793608864

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Reviews

Jeffrey Metzger's book offers a novel account of the origin of the moral and the political through a meticulous examination of the Second Essay of the Genealogy of Morals.  It is refreshing to find a new path through such a well-trodden field. -- Michael Gillespie, Duke University There are many books on the Genealogy, but none that focus just on one essay as Metzger does here with clarity and depth.  Unlike many commentaries on the Genealogy, Metzger examines the political theory implicit in the second essay, and is not afraid to challenge Nietzsche, especially on his views of nature, the will to power, and teleology.  What emerges is a thorough, illuminating account of an essay difficult and confounding even by Nietzsche's standard. -- Jeffrey Church, University of Houston An impressive study of the Second Essay in Nietzsche's Genealogy, giving due attention to both moral and political questions. Metzger also offers a refreshing mix of exegesis and critique of Nietzsche's analysis. A genuine contribution to the literature on an enigmatic book. -- Lawrence J. Hatab, Louis I. Jaffe Professor of Philosophy, Old Dominion University Jeffrey Metzger has delivered a scrupulously detailed reconstruction and critique of Nietzsche’s audacious attempt, in On the Genealogy of Morality, to account for the birth of politics and the origin of communities structured by recognizably moral obligations. Displaying an enviable familiarity with the relevant secondary literature, Metzger patiently guides his readers through a notoriously dense and difficult landmark text. The resulting insight and clarity make for a welcome contribution to the study of Nietzsche’s mature political thinking. -- Daniel Conway, Texas A&M University

Jeffrey Metzger's book offers a novel account of the origin of the moral and the political through a meticulous examination of the Second Essay of the Genealogy of Morals. It is refreshing to find a new path through such a well-trodden field. -- Michael Gillespie, Duke University There are many books on the Genealogy, but none that focus just on one essay as Metzger does here with clarity and depth. Unlike many commentaries on the Genealogy, Metzger examines the political theory implicit in the second essay, and is not afraid to challenge Nietzsche, especially on his views of nature, the will to power, and teleology. What emerges is a thorough, illuminating account of an essay difficult and confounding even by Nietzsche's standard. -- Jeffrey Church, University of Houston An impressive study of the Second Essay in Nietzsche's Genealogy, giving due attention to both moral and political questions. Metzger also offers a refreshing mix of exegesis and critique of Nietzsche's analysis. A genuine contribution to the literature on an enigmatic book. -- Lawrence J. Hatab, Louis I. Jaffe Professor of Philosophy, Old Dominion University Jeffrey Metzger has delivered a scrupulously detailed reconstruction and critique of Nietzsche's audacious attempt, in On the Genealogy of Morality, to account for the birth of politics and the origin of communities structured by recognizably moral obligations. Displaying an enviable familiarity with the relevant secondary literature, Metzger patiently guides his readers through a notoriously dense and difficult landmark text. The resulting insight and clarity make for a welcome contribution to the study of Nietzsche's mature political thinking. -- Daniel Conway, Texas A&M University

Author Information

Jeffrey Metzger is professor of government at Cameron University.

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