ABSTRACT
This chapter contextualizes Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of teleological historiography in terms of his own historical development. Before turning to HL, the general movement of Nietzsche's dissertation notes while at the university of Leipzig will be exposited in order to show how his early thoughts about teleology were grounded in an epistemological rather than cultural critique. The chapter articulates his cultural critiques of Hegel and Hegelianism, as well as a subtle critique of Marxist materialist teleological history. It elucidates Nietzsche's alternative to both scientific historiography and to teleology, Nietzsche's own healthy or affirmative version of the historical enterprise: historiography as competition. The critique of teleology here is connected to Nietzsche's and of course to Arthur Schopenhauer's critique of Hegel as a quit essential sell-out, as a company man devoted to extolling the virtues and historical necessity of the Prussian government, while at the same time gladly accepting his salary from that same Prussian government.
