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Friedrich Nietzsche and the Politics of Anticipatory Responsibility

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Friedrich Nietzsche and the Politics of Anticipatory Responsibility NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY From Personal to Political Responsibility: Friedrich Nietzsche and the Politics of Anticipatory Responsibility A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFIMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS For the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Field of Political Science By Michael Christopher Sardo Evanston, IL September 2017 2 © Copyright by Michael Christopher Sardo 2017 All Rights Reserved 3 Abstract Responsibility is a central political concept, yet the dynamics of contemporary political life call into question commonsense accounts of individual moral responsibility; it is difficult to ascribe responsibility to individual agents when faced with political dilemmas like global climate change. In response to this dilemma, this project engages two questions. First, how do different interpretations of responsibility both emerge from different political discourses and simultaneously shape different responses to political dilemmas? Second, in contrast to ubiquitous narratives of personal responsibility, what contending interpretations could better address contemporary political dilemmas? Drawing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings and engaging American political discourse, liberal political philosophy, and contemporary political theory, I advance three main claims. First, responsibility should be understood politically: it has an essentially contestable meaning, particular meanings are invoked to settle political disputes, and different invocations envision contending accounts of how the political world is and should be structured. Second, dominant narratives of personal responsibility generate two political pathologies. They both obscure the role of social, economic, and political institutions and structures in generating injustice and generate and direct resentful ascriptions of blame towards vulnerable people for their own suffering. Third, drawing on Nietzsche, I advance a contending interpretation of responsibility, which I call anticipatory responsibility: the obligation that political communities have to maintain the possibility of human flourishing into the future. Rather than retrospectively distributing guilt, debt, or blame, anticipatory responsibility envisions a mobilized democratic citizenry acting claiming responsibility for the structure of the political world, by working to build, reform, and maintain just political institutions. Anticipatory responsibility both can better orient political thought and action, and can only be discharged through political engagement. 4 Acknowledgements While it is a cliché to acknowledge that a dissertation cannot be complicated without the help and support of others, failing to do so seems particularly egregious in my case, given my criticism of narratives of personal responsibility. The completion of this dissertation itself should stand as evidence supporting the claim that no one can completely determine their lives, even if none of my substantive arguments are persuasive. First, I must thank my advisor and dissertation chair, Lars Tønder, for guiding and informing this project from its infancy to its culmination. Lars encouraged me to expand my theoretical and imaginative horizons, while providing the incisive criticism necessary to hone the argument. I doubt I will ever be able to fully account for the influence of his insight, commentary, and encouragement on this project. Lars was also the consummate advisor, infinitely patient and responsive; he always found time to help guide me from the theoretical labyrinths I had lost myself within and support my scholarly and professional development, regardless of time-zone differences. My committee members, Jacqueline Stevens, Mark Alznauer, and Michael Loriaux all provided invaluable insight, knowledge, and commentary, pushing me to tighten both my argument and prose and bringing to light new perspectives to consider. Their influence on this final document is without doubt. My other teachers at Northwestern, in political theory, political science, and philosophy have shaped my thinking and me as a scholar. Their seminars, insights, and advice are all reflected in the pages of this study. In addition to my teachers, I thank my colleagues, who have read multiple versions of every chapter at the Political Theory Workshop. Their incisive critiques, productive suggestions, and uplifting reassurance made this study possible. In particular, I want to thank Désirée Weber, with whom I had the pleasure of co-coordinating the workshop for two years, as well as Jeni Forestal, Javier Burdman, Boris Litvin, and Christina LoTempio, who served as discussants for my 5 presentations and offered commentary on drafts outside of our normal workshop. My workshop colleagues not only sharpened my own work but also demonstrated the breadth, depth, and vitality of political theory with their own projects. The workshop is an exemplary scholarly community, and I will always fondly look back on our Friday afternoon sessions. During my time at Northwestern I received partial funding through an appointment as the Assistant Chair of the Public Affairs Residential College. I am thankful both for the financial assistance and for the opportunity to discuss my research with its eager undergraduates. I presented work contributing to this study at meetings of the APSA, the MPSA, the APT, as well as Northwestern’s critical theory workshop and Public Affairs Residential College, and I thank participants for their feedback and questions. I attended the School of Criticism and Theory, supported by Northwestern’s Critical Theory Cluster, in the Summer of 2013, during this project’s germinal stage. Jane Bennett’s seminar, conversations with William E. Connolly and Ian Baucom, and debates and discussions with colleagues and friends in seminars, at lectures, and over drinks formed a fertile environment for this study to develop. I am also indebted to conversations with Shalini Satkunanandan and Jade Schiff (if only over Facebook) about the politics of responsibility. From the College of William and Mary, it is also necessary to thank John Baltes, who first put me on this path, and John Lombardini, who continues to be a valuable conversation partner. Beyond the academy, I thank my family and friends for their love, encouragement, and patience throughout this journey. They reminded me that there was life outside of the dissertation, while being genuinely and generously curious about my work. Most importantly, my biggest debt is to my partner, Erin K. Lockwood. Erin continues to provide a guiding light for both my life and scholarship. She always pushed me to connect political theory to political practice, and had faith in both me and my arguments, even when I did not. Her influence can be found on every page, and I am eternally thankful for her presence in my life. 6 Note on Texts, Translations, and Citations Notes to Nietzsche’s texts are noted in the text parenthetically, with an abbreviated title followed by aphorism number or section title. For ease of reference, I us the following translations of: - A: The Anti-Christ. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Twilight of the Idols and the Anti-Christ. New York: Penguin Pres, [1895] 1990. - AOM: Assorted Opinions and Maxims. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Human, All Too Human Volume II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1879] 1990. - BGE: Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future. Trans. Judith Norman. Ed. Rolf- Peter Horstmann and Judith Norman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1886] 2002. - BT: The Birth of Tragedy Out of the Spirit of Music. Trans. Ronald Spiers. In. The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings. Ed. Raymond Geuss and Ronald Spiers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1872] 1999. - D: Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. Ed. Maudemarie Clark and Brian Leiter. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1881] 1997. - DW: “The Dionysian Worldview.” Trans. Ronald Spiers. In. The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings. Ed. Raymond Geuss and Ronald Spiers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1870] 1999. - GM: On the Genealogy of Morality: A Polemic. Trans. Carol Diethe. Ed. Keith Ansell-Pearson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1887] 1998. - GS: The Gay Science. Trans. Josefine Nauckhoff. Ed. Bernard Williams. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1887] 2001. - HC: “Homer’s Contest.” Trans. Carol Diethe. In. On the Genealogy of Morality, 174-182. Ed. Keith Ansell-Pearson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1872] 1998. - HH: Human, All Too Human, Volume I. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1879] 1990. - HL: “On the Use and Disadvantage of History for Life.” Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Untimely Meditations ed. Daniel Breazeale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1874] 1997. - SE: “Schopenhauer as Educator.” Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Untimely Meditations ed. Daniel Breazeale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1874] 1997. - TI: Twilight of the Idols. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Twilight of the Idols and the Anti-Christ. New York: Penguin Pres, [1895] 1990. - TL: “On Truth and Lying in a Non-Moral Sense.” Trans. Ronald Spiers. In. The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings. Ed. Raymond Geuss and Ronald Spiers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1872] 1999. - WS: The Wanderer and his Shadow. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. In Human, All Too Human Volume II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, [1880] 1990. - TSZ: Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Trans. Adrian Del Caro. Ed. Adrian Del Caro and
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