Politics of the Will: A Study of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche Open Access
Zelikson, Agustin (Spring 2025)
Abstract
Schopenhauer’s idea of the will and Nietzsche’s expansion on the former’s will to life, and his rejection of God were utterly revolutionary by attempting to destroy religious and ethical values. Their metaphysics have been thoroughly explored and have continued to inspire philosophers like Heidegger and Derrida. However, as the main proposers of the will, their political thought has often been shadowed by their metaphysics. This thesis presents an ove3rview and critique of their political thought. The method of examination is an internal reading of these two thinkers’ own philosophical views with the aim of situating their political philosophies within their broader metaphysical views. The first part of this thesis studies Schopenhauer’s metaphysics and politics. He believed an absolute monarchy and intellectual aristocracy were the best form of government. Using the lens of his metaphysics and morals, his political thought is shown to be unaligned with his larger worldview. Instead, I argue that a liberal state is more consistent with his previous work. Schopenhauer’s politics is thus refuted within his metaphysical framework. The second part of this thesis explores Nietzsche’s political thought, which expanded on Schopenhauer’s. The latter influenced Nietzsche’s early and late work, but Nietzsche went further in claiming that the universe is meaningless and not pessimistic. This allows his politics, which, at first, place the creation of genius as the goal of the state, and which later become anti-state, to fit the worldview he establishes as his metaphysics. Ultimately, Nietzsche’s early political philosophy that declares the creation of genius as the main goal of the state, and his late thought, which attempts to refute the foundations of the state, are seen as congruent with his weltanschauung and shown as the true politics of the will.
Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................1
Chapter I: Intro to Schopenhauer’s Thought.........................................................................11
Chapter II: An Overview and Critique of Schopenhauer’s Politics...........................................26
Chapter III: Nietzsche's Early Schopenhauerian Politics........................................................42
Chapter IV: Nietzsche’s Politics as Beyond Good and Evil......................................................61
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