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The Origin and Early Context of the Revaluation Theme in Nietzsche's Thinking
- The Journal of Nietzsche Studies
- Penn State University Press
- Issue 39, Spring 2010
- pp. 12-29
- 10.1353/nie.0.0059
- Article
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Most commentators have assumed that the revaluation theme belongs exclusively to the late Nietzsche (from Thus Spoke Zarathustra and onward); often its origin is dated to 1886 or 1884. After examining Nietzsche's notes, I argue that its origin occurred in 1880-81. I discuss its rather complex context at this time, with no single obvious thematic textual context outweighing all the others, and consider some of the consequences of this early dating. I furthermore examine the end of the literary revaluation project, concluding that Nietzsche regarded it as an unfinished four-volume project at least until shortly before his mental collapse.