Faculty Forum to Discuss Nietzsche's Moral Judgments

Dr. David Goldberg, Westminster College assistant professor of philosophy, will present "A Nietzschean Solution to Ethical Relativism" Wednesday, April 27, at 11:45 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater located in the McKelvey Campus Center.

"One of the most common complaints about Nietzsche's perspectivism is that it is a morally bankrupt system in which no moral adjudication between courses of action can be substantiated," Goldberg said.  "The contention is that with the dissolution of both metaphysical and enlightenment grounds for evaluating human conduct, no position of superiority can be established, hence everything is equally justified.  This includes the most heinous of human acts with the common response that perspectivism justifies the Holocaust.

"To the contrary, I suggest that when Nietzche is properly understood, not only does he himself make moral judgments, but that within his philosophy a ground can be established for perspectivism to morally evaluate human conduct.  This ground is predicated on a genealogical approach to morality, an approach that trumps the complaint that Nietzschean philosophy establishes an absolute relativism."

Goldberg, who has been with Westminster College since 2002, earned his undergraduate and master's degrees from Pennsylvania State University, and his Ph.D. from Duquesne University.

Faculty forum, established in 1990, serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas and information among Westminster College faculty.  Speakers present their research, teaching ideas, lectures, performances, special programs, and uses of technology to keep faculty informed about the work of colleagues from many disciplines.

The event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Goldberg at (724) 946-7153 or e-mail goldbedw@westminster.edu.

Dr. David Goldberg