Perspectivism, Criticism and Freedom of Spirit

Author: Reginster, Bernard

Source: European Journal of Philosophy, Volume 8, Number 1, April 2000 , pp. 40-62(23)

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Abstract:

The paper examines the view that Nietzsche's perspectivism about practical judgments, understood as a form of internalism about practical reasons, implies that any legitimate criticism of judgments emanating from a foreign perspective must be in terms that are internal to this perspective. Insofar as it is thought to be motivated by certain general theoretical strictures of perspectivism, this view is incoherent. The paper argues that, on the contrary Nietzsche's recourse to a strategy of internal criticism is motivated by his own particular commitment to preserving the freedom of spirit of his interlocutors. The paper concludes with a discussion of how freedom of spirit is preserved by internal criticism, and how the nature of freedom of spirit affects the particular form such criticism will assume.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-0378.00100

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA

Publication date: 2000-04-01