Wayne State University Wayne State University Dissertations 1-1-2014 Provocation In The olitP ical Theories Of Plato, Rousseau And Nietzsche Aaron Martin Wayne State University, Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Aaron, "Provocation In The oP litical Theories Of Plato, Rousseau And Nietzsche" (2014). Wayne State University Dissertations. Paper 990. This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Wayne State University Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState. PROVOCATION IN THE POLITICAL THEORIES OF PLATO, ROUSSEAU AND NIETZSCHE by AARON MARTIN DISSERTATION Submitted to the Graduate School of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2014 MAJOR: POLITICAL SCIENCE Approved by: ___________________________________________ Advisor Date ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ DEDICATION This is as much my family’s as it is mine: my parents, Rich and Lynn, and my brothers, Ian and Nathan—and Jon, too. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to especially thank my Dissertation Chair, Dr. Ron Brown, and my Department Advisor and Committee Member, Dr. Sharon Lean, as well as my other Committee Members, Dr. Philip Abbott and Dr. Zach Brewster. I would also like to thank Dr. Daniel Geller and Dr. Lawrence Scaff. iii ABBREVIATIONS A Plato. 1997. “Apology,” in Plato: Complete Works. John M. Cooper, ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co. AC Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1888] 1977. “Anti-Christ,” in Twilight of the Idols; and the Anti- Christ. Walter Kaufmann, trans. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. BGE Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1886] 1966. Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future. Walter Kaufmann, trans. New York: Vintage Books. C Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. [1782a] 1953. The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. J.M. Cowen, trans. Harmondsworth: Penguin. Ch Plato. 1997. “Charmides,” in Plato: Complete Works. John M. Cooper, ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co. Cr Plato. 1997. “Crito,” in Plato: Complete Works. John M. Cooper, ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co. DOI Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. 1987. “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality,” in The Basic Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Donald A. Cress, trans. and Peter Gay, intro. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company. DSA Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. 1987. “Discourse on the Science and Arts,” in The Basic Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Donald A. Cress, trans. and Peter Gay, intro. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company. E Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. [1762] 1979. Emile, or On Education. Allan Bloom, trans. New York: Basic Books. iv EH Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1887, 1888] 1969. “Ecce Homo,” in On the Genealogy of Morals—Ecce Homo. Walter Kaufmann, trans. New York: Vintage Books. GM Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1887, 1888] 1969. “On the Genealogy of Morals,” in On the Genealogy of Morals—Ecce Homo. Walter Kaufmann, trans. New York: Vintage Books. Gor Plato. 1998. Plato’s Gorgias. James H. Nichols, Jr., trans. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Publishing. GS Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1882] 1974. The Gay Science. Walter Kaufmann, trans. New York, NY: Vintage Books. L Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. [1763] 1990. “Essay on the Origin of Languages,” in Collected Writings of Rousseau Vol. 7, John T. Scott, trans. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. NE Aristotle. 1980. The Nicomachean Ethics. William D. Ross, ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. PG Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1873] 1962. Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greek. Marianne Cowen, trans. Washington: Regnery. Ph Plato. 1997. “Phaedo,” in Plato: Complete Works. John M. Cooper, ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co. Pol Aristotle. 1984. Aristotle’s Politics. Carnes Lord, trans.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. R Plato. 1991. The Republic of Plato. Allen Bloom, trans. New York: Basic Books. v Rh McKeon, Richard. 1941. “Rhetoric,” in The Basic Works of Aristotle. New York: Random House. RSW Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. [1782b] 1979. The Reveries of the Solitary Walker. Charles E. Butterworth, trans. New York: New York University Press. SC Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. 1987. “On the Social Contract,” in The Basic Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Donald A. Cress, trans. and Peter Gay, intro. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company. TI Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1888] 1977. “Twilight of the Idols,” in Twilight of the Idols; and the Anti-Christ. Walter Kaufmann, trans. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Z Nietzsche, Friedrich. [1883] 1933. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Walter Kaufmann, trans. London and New York: Dent and Dutton. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication.................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................iii Abbreviations...........................................................................................................................iv Chapter 1: Dissertation Introduction........................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Provocation................................................................................29 Chapter 3: Framing Provocation.............................................................................................53 Chapter 4: The Historical Socrates of Plato..........................................................................106 Chapter 5: Plato and the Platonic Socrates..........................................................................136 Chapter 6: Rousseau.............................................................................................................163 Chapter 7: Nietzsche............................................................................................................191 Chapter 8: Dissertation Conclusion......................................................................................219 References............................................................................................................................234 Abstract................................................................................................................................246 Autobiographical Statement................................................................................................247 vii 1 CHAPTER 1 Dissertation Introduction All enduring works of political theory are provocative. To make such an assertion is not, however. It is a rather unremarkable statement to suggest great philosophy provokes, but what does this mean? By what standard can provocation as a concept be measured? Additionally, by what framework can its rhetorical significance, both in style and substance, be assessed? Provocative rhetoric has its origins in the first theoretical treatises whose intentions are to transform both humans and regimes. My dissertation describes a specific terminology for the concept of provocation, and applies it to three theorists: Plato, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Friedrich Nietzsche. These three have been chosen because they all come from distinct philosophical eras and represent contrasting views about what it means both to be human and the meaning for which we are here. They all employ similar language and address similar subject matters— e.g., pity and self-control—to come to, in some instances, totally opposite conclusions about the true nature of humans and thus, by extension, societies and governments. I examine the authors’ use of provocative language as a strategy for incorporating the concept of provocation itself into the overall philosophical program from which they base their theories of provocation. In other words, since, as Aristotle argues, that “rational desires are those which we are induced to have” (Rh 1362), Plato, Rousseau and Nietzsche choose words that are meant to persuasively appeal to the audiences’ emotions in order to unlock the inner deliberate capacity for the dispositional transformation they seek from their 2 political audience. From this framework, I look at the authors not only as theorists, but also as strategists whose explanatory methods purposely include the language of provocation. In this way, the concept of provocation has multiple dimensions—one is rhetorical, the other is substantive. As a tactical measure to most persuasively articulate their respective substantive messages, the theorists identify and engage antagonistic interlocutors and audiences whose flawed natures and dispositions can be argumentatively connected to the cultural and political problems facing the theorists themselves as well as society at-large. But to make such an antithetical case that resonates is no easy task, as they are attempting a reversal of many deeply cherished values that have come to be culturally revered and politically supported. One used most often is the invocation of “God” and “other-worldliness” as a conduit for defending the status quo, although, for the theorists, its conventional appeal is an absurd—and/or disingenuous use whose rhetorical inclusion represents fear-mongering meant to prey on the unsuspecting