Abstract
According to Nietzsche, drives are the ultimate constituents of virtues and vices. I argue that Nietzsche identifies two blueprints for character construction: A slavish, interpersonal blueprint, and a masterly, reflexive blueprint. When the interpersonal blueprint is implemented, a person becomes what he is called: his drives are shaped by the traits ascribed to him so that he becomes more like the sort of person he's taken to be. When the reflexive blueprint is implemented, a person becomes more like the sort of person she calls herself: her drives are shaped by the traits she ascribes to herself in a community of peers. The reflexive blueprint shares some surprising similarities with the interpersonal blueprint. I conclude with an account of Nietzschean summoning, which occurs when one person praises a generic type to an audience, implicitly inviting them to identify with that type and thereby to become more like it.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 261-269 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Nietzsche Studies |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Character
- Materliness
- Self-fulfilling prophecy
- Slavishness
- Virtue