Hong-Bin Lim

Korea University, Corea del Sur
Full Professor

Visiting Professor in Augsburg University (1997), Australian National University (1997) and Bremen University (2006). Academic Advisor (Internationaler Wissenschaftlicher Beirat) of the International Hegel Society (2008-). Hong-Bin Lim is Full Professor at Korea University, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Department of Philosophy.

 

Abstract

 

Aesthetic Existence and Affection in Nietzsche

In my paper, I will at first concentrate on the tension between the two intertwined interpretations of the Nietzsche’s idea of aesthetic existence. The stumbling history of Nietzsche research continues here with its own dilemma. Some interpreters are concerned with what we may regard as aesthetic dimension of Nietzsche’s philosophy, which influence has been evidenced by the rise of postmodernism and poststructuralism as well. Nietzsche’s theme of life as artworks is one of the most famous declarations of the poetic philosopher. We can argue that Nietzsche was deeply concerned with the tragic sense of life, so we assume that the «artist metaphysic» culminates in the Zarathustra. But the other interpreters assert that naturalistic dimension gives a necessary access to the real meaning of human existence. Naturalism is certainly one of the striking features of Nietzsche’s philosophy. But it needs to be defined by the further qualifications. An analysis of Nietzsche’s naturalistic program will provide the opportunity to clarify the idea of aesthetic existence under the conditions of nihilistic civilization. I would like to take up the idea that aesthetic existence is more a fundamental constellation of human being than a normative ideal. The term «aestheticism» is often used as an umbrella concept for some aspects of Nietzsche’s philosophy. But the justifiable formulation of an aesthetic existence might be the one supported by the other relevant programs of Nietzsche himself. In this context I would like to claim that the affective economy should be considered as one of the basic dimensions of Nietzsche’s idea of being human. One aim of my paper is to reconstruct this part of his philosophy as the genuine self-identity.

 

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