Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power has long been misunderstood and not given sufficient atte... more Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power has long been misunderstood and not given sufficient attention for its utility in understanding social dynamics. Much of this trouble is a function of the polemic overtones of Nietzsche’s writing style. We should read Nietzsche not as a Nazi, nihilist, or motivational speaker–as many have in the past–but rather as a perspectivist illuminating a serendipity by which we can understand much of the world–i.e., will to power. This paper will advance an immanent critique of the self-sufficiency of Nietzsche's notion of the will to power. Following an overview of the notion and how it should be interpreted, will to power will put it through a “stress test.” This paper will show precisely where the notion “breaks” and how we should remedy this shortcoming with a supplemented understanding of will–namely with my notion of will to decadence. The utility of this supplemented understanding of will is it better explains various forms of decadence (i.e., decay and stagnation) in art and aesthetics in a manner which Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power alone cannot.
Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power has long been misunderstood and not given sufficient atte... more Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power has long been misunderstood and not given sufficient attention for its utility in understanding social dynamics. Much of this trouble is a function of the polemic overtones of Nietzsche’s writing style. We should read Nietzsche not as a Nazi, nihilist, or motivational speaker–as many have in the past–but rather as a perspectivist illuminating a serendipity by which we can understand much of the world–i.e., will to power. This paper will advance an immanent critique of the self-sufficiency of Nietzsche's notion of the will to power. Following an overview of the notion and how it should be interpreted, will to power will put it through a “stress test.” This paper will show precisely where the notion “breaks” and how we should remedy this shortcoming with a supplemented understanding of will–namely with my notion of will to decadence. The utility of this supplemented understanding of will is it better explains various forms of decadence (i.e., decay and stagnation) in art and aesthetics in a manner which Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power alone cannot.
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Papers by Jay Doshi