After presenting a theory partially based on etymology, Nietzshe asks this question. He wants some academic scrutiny of his own method. — Mongrel
What do you think? Can you give an example of proper use of etymology in philosophy? If not, anywhere? — Mongrel
I suppose that etymology can be of use if you are interested in the history of ideas, and in particular in exegesis of old philosophers, which is what much of academic philosophy seems to be about. — SophistiCat
Heidegger wrote a four volume treatise on Nietzsche.
https://www.amazon.com/Nietzsche-Vols-Knowledge-Metaphysics-Nihilism/dp/0060637943/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5PAVDVVXKY69QV5BG674 — John
I find etymology useful for breaking the sedimented semantic resonance of words. — StreetlightX
In what way was Nietzsche's theory "based on etymology"?
Was it his “theory” that was based on etymology, or only his interpretations of philosophical texts, or merely his own use of words and phrases? — Cabbage Farmer
That exegetical task is complicated by the fact that different speakers, especially those from different times and places, may have disparate etymological resources at their disposal -- a difficulty a philologist like Nietzsche might hope to resolve. — Cabbage Farmer
Have you read it? I think I'd like to. — Mongrel
In any case this question of objectification has been very much in my thoughts and what much of my recent reading has been concerned with, so Heidegger's Nietzsche may not turn out to go against its general direction, after all. — John
Etymology is not the single primary foundation of any of it. He uses it to give weight to (or sort of demand consideration of) a story that starts with a mindless human beast who eventually becomes trapped in a moral straight-jacket. So it's all about will (no surprise there.) — Mongrel
A third use of etymology, as a sort of artist's heuristic: Take your own speech, or another's, and examine it etymologically, either a whole passage or just the most interesting turns of phrase. Let the results of the investigation stir up your thoughts, as prompts for further speaking. — Cabbage Farmer
Could you expand on that? — Mongrel
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