ABSTRACT

This chapter looks more closely at Nietzsche’s discovery of a ‘major point of historical method’ during his genealogical examination of the origins of morality. It focuses, in particular, upon the searching questions he poses to our historical sense. Throughout his writings, Nietzsche was fascinated by the question of what the value of history should be. We assume, Nietzsche reminds us, that to have a full and developed historical consciousness is a sign of a civilised personality. To be ‘civilised’ means to have at least some sense of classical and antiquarian literature and to be aware of the great cultural heritages of antiquity. But while a developed historical consciousness may be a sign of cultural maturity, is it necessarily good for us? Is it possible that our fascination with the past has led us to be sterile and uncreative? More generally, what, Nietzsche asks, is our historical sense actually for and what modes of life does it make possible in the present?