Nietzsche＇s Naturalistic Metaethics： In Defense of Privilege＊  

作　　者：Timothy McWhirter 

机构地区：[1]Montgomery College

出　　处：《Journal of Philosophy Study》2012年第2期92-102,共11页哲学研究（英文版）

摘　　要：In his essay ＂Nietzsche＇s Metaethics： Against the Privilege Readings,＂ Brian Leiter critically examines Richard Schacht＇s naturalistic interpretation of Nietzsche. Leiter focuses on the metaethical question： ＂What status--metaphysical, epistemological^o the values used to undertake [Nietzsche＇s] revaluation [of value] （the ＇assessing values＇） enjoy？＂ （2000, 277）. Are these values true or better justified？ Leiter describes Schacht＇s position as a ＂privilege reading＂ that holds that the perspective from which Nietzsche revaluates values is privileged on the basis of＂normative facts＂ which are constituted by certain ＂natural facts＂ （2000, 279）. Leiter attempts to outline and even enhance the argument he sees Schacht making for this position, which Leiter calls a naturalistic realism. Leiter however finds that the arguments for ＂privilege readings＂ are insufficient. He concludes that the perspective from which Nietzsche revaluates values is not privileged at all. It is simply the idiosyncratic perspective from which Nietzsche revaluates values. In this paper I argue that a version of Schacht＇s privilege reading can be supported using two fundamental components of Leiter＇s interpretation of Nietzsche： his methodological and substantive naturalism. When we use scientific methods and view social systems like other natural systems, we find that in contemporary science a privilege is given to the maximum power principle. This concept was initially conceived by the chemist and mathematician Alfred Lotka and further developed by the ecologist Howard Odum and it has a fundamental similarity to the will to power. This principle provides an empirical foundation for the will to power and Schacht＇s privilege reading of Nietzsche＇s metaethics. It provides further evidence that human life is ultimately part of a vast natural process and the growth of all natural systems is made possible by an increase in power.

关 键 词：NIETZSCHE NATURALISM METAETHICS 

分 类 号：N02[自然科学总论—科学技术哲学] E712.1[军事—军事理论]