Laura Viidebaum's presentation on Nietzsche's attitude towards ancient philosophy through the understanding of the sophists

In the presentation „Thus Spoke… Nietzsche on the Sophists“, the discussion will delve deeper into Nietzsche's interpretation of the sophists and how it contrasts with the views of both contemporary and earlier philosophers. The lecture will be given by Laura Viidebaum, Associate Professor of Ancient Studies at New York University and Visiting Researcher at the University of Tartu.

Colloquium Summary

„Friedrich Nietzsche is quite an uncomfortable author for classical scholars and philosophers alike, as a significant part of his critical approach to philosophy stems precisely from his reaction to and critique of contemporary classical studies and its leading figures. He was deeply familiar with this field, and Nietzsche can even be considered one of the most remarkable „products“ of classical studies of his time. Although Nietzsche is later primarily known for his radical contributions to modern philosophy, antiquity remained a persistent theme in his philosophical thought and was often one of his main sources of inspiration in shaping his provocative stances.

In my presentation, I will examine Nietzsche's attitude toward ancient philosophy through a very specific aspect – his interpretation of the sophists. Today, we generally understand sophists as the intellectuals active in 5th/4th century BCE Athens, whose reception has been significantly damaged due to Plato’s and Aristotle’s scathing judgments. While in recent years, sophists (or at least some known sophists) have increasingly been reconsidered as philosophers, Nietzsche’s contemporaries largely rejected them and viewed them as so-called anti-thinkers and opponents of their era’s „true" philosophers – Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The presentation will primarily focus on two different aspects of Nietzsche’s works and thinking (including posthumously published texts) that indicate his close connection with the sophists: the „early Nietzsche“ sees them as innovators of language and style, while the „late Nietzsche“ views them as countercultural revolutionaries. Despite the fact that in both phases, Nietzsche highlights sophists as spokesmen for his own philosophical interests (such as linguistic development and the overthrow of values), his treatment of them remains mostly superficial and surprisingly unenthusiastic – especially compared to his intense engagement with other key ancient philosophers like Plato and Socrates. In the conclusion of the presentation, I will attempt to offer possible explanations for this paradox.“

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Open series of colloquia in spring 2025

This colloquium is part of the Susimetsa Philosophicum Residency Programme, where the residents present the results of their research projects. The colloquium is organised by the Department of Philosophy and the Centre for Ethics of the University of Tartu. The colloquium is supported by the NGO Prof. Dr. Theda Rehbock's Susimetsa Philosophicum.