Freedom Above Things

Nietzsche and the Artistic Critique of Capitalism

Bibliographic Data

ID2370566
AuthorsGary Yeritsian (University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume45
Issue2
Pages227-238
Publication date2019-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0896-9205 • E-ISSN: 1569-1632
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0896920517750743
OpenAlexW2792019374
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited17

This article has two analytical objectives: to read Nietzsche's thought as an instance of the 'artistic critique of capitalism,' as theorized by Boltanski and Chiapello; and to connect that reading to illustrative historical examples of left-wing movements on which Nietzsche's artistic critique exerted an influence. It thus brings into question the orthodox Marxist interpretation (associated primarily with Lukács and Mehring) of Nietzsche as a reactionary apologist for imperialism and capitalism. Certainly, Nietzsche's political philosophy is explicitly elitist and antidemocratic, and thus in no way mounts a 'social critique' of the inegalitarianism and exploitation characteristic of modern class society. However, Nietzsche's opposition to industrial discipline and standardization and his championing of the struggle against generic alienations align him in a profound way with the liberatory impulse of the artistic critique

Aesthetics · Capitalism · Class conflict · Epistemology · Marxist philosophy · Political science · Politics · Reactionary · Sociology · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Law · Philosophy · Political Economy and Marxism · Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, and Politics

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