LANGUAGE, POETRY, AND TRUTH: A STUDY OF NIETZSCHE'S VIEWS ON LANGUAGE IN ITS AESTHETIC AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEXTS

Nietzsche's views on language, part of a tradition of German linguistic thought from Hamann to Wittgenstein, are examined within the compass of Nietzsche's collected works. The relationship between language and truth, which is Nietzsche's primary concern when considering the problem of language, is the main focus of this study. Organized topically rather than chronologically or by work, it attempts to establish and assess the philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of Nietzsche's views on language.;Although it strives for completeness within the limits outlined above, this study intentionally omits a consideration of those writings by Nietzsche which concern primarily the stylistic aspects of language, the use of language. Nor does it engage in stylistic analysis of Nietzsche's own writing, although the poet's "play" with language is necessarily considered from a theoretical standpoint. The intent of this omission, of course, is not to deny the brilliance of Nietzsche as a writer.;There have indeed been numerous short studies done of isolated aspects of Nietzsche's thought on language, as well as many stylistic analyses of his writing. it is hoped that this dissertation will help fill the need for a study which comprehensively treats Nietzsche's views on language from the standpoint of its relationship to poetry and truth.;Beginning with a discussion of Nietzsche's concept of truth, the dissertation goes on to consider his critique of language under the following headings: the tropological nature of language and its implications for knowledge; the relationship between language and consciousness; the linguistic basis of a causal view of reality; and the oversimplification of experience at the hands of language. These topics comprise the ontological and epistemological part of the study. The other major part concerns Nietzsche's view of the relationship between language and art, especially "poetry" in the broad sense of the word Nietzsche employs. Here the topics under discussion are language, music, and the tragic vision, mainly within Nietzsche's early writings; the poet's "play" with language and the aesthetic Weltanschauung; and finally, the ultimate, positive value which Nietzsche attributes to language and art as Schein.