Nietzsche and the idea of a history of the genesis of thought

• Grant number: 11/10559-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - History of Philosophy
• Principal Investigator: Scarlett Zerbetto Marton
• Grantee: Emmanuel Timothée Salanskis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nietzsche never read On the origin of species and strongly distanced himself from Darwinism in his last writings. However, this does not exclude that he develops a conception of evolution, nor that evolutionism constitutes a framework of his philosophical reflection. Taking as a basis the work already done, the present project aims at tracing the development of Nietzsche's interpretation of evolution from the notes of 1868 to the writings of 1888. The concept of evolution will be defined as the gradual transformation of what can be preserved or inherited. I would like to show that Nietzsche applies this notion not only to natural history, but also to psychology and cultural history. Thus, I hope to clarify the actual debate about Nietzsche's "evolutionary naturalism". (AU)