The Problem of Socrates in Nietzsche's "Birth of Tragedy" — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
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Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

The Problem of Socrates in Nietzsche's "Birth of Tragedy"

Name: Rachael Kimmerling
Major: Great Ideas, Political Science, French
Hometown: Normal, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: SURE
Funding: SURE

Abstract

The central sections of The Birth of Tragedy contain a harsh criticism of Plato and Socrates, raising questions pertaining to Nietzsche’s view of these foundational figures of political philosophy and how they should serve modern culture. This research pursued an understanding of this early presentation of "the Problem of Socrates" by turning directly to the references Nietzsche makes to Plato's works and studying them in their proper context. The study claims that Nietzsche holds neither ardent resentment nor admiration for Socrates, but instead pursues a contest with Plato in the belief that he is a worthy intellectual competitor. The treatment of The Birth of Tragedy in such a way, one that takes seriously the claims made about Plato and pursues these claims through their juxtaposition with the dialogues themselves, sets it apart from much of the scholarship surrounding Nietzsche's works. Recently, the study has begun to expand into analysis of his treatment of Plato and Socrates in his later works as well.

Poster file