Nietzsche’s Early Views on the Relation between Language and Philosophy

Year 2024, , 100 - 108, 03.06.2024

Necdet Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.55256/temasa.1416019

Abstract

This paper closely reads Nietzsche's early views on language and its relation with philosophy. The analysis is structured into several key themes. Firstly, regarding the musical and the metaphoric elements of language, Nietzsche suggests that language consists of two main elements: the “tonal subsoil” and “gesture symbolism.” Secondly, he asserts the primacy of the musical element. Thirdly, Nietzsche associates the musical element with the Dionysian and the metaphorical element with the Apollonian. On this basis, this paper explores the complex relation between language, philosophy, and “truth.” It delves into the metaphorical character of knowledge and its inherent inability to express anything in-itself due to its necessary connection with arbitrary gesture symbolism. Furthermore, regarding the genesis of language, Nietzsche's perspective on the telos of language, and claim of the illogical operation in the formation of concepts, characterized by the equalization of unequal things are discussed. Lastly, this paper scrutinizes the world that language gives us through concepts, highlighting its inherent powerlessness when compared with the world of appearances. Through these discussions, this paper aims to shed light on Nietzsche's profound insights into the complex nature of language–philosophy relation, some important early ones of which are widely neglected.

Keywords

Nietzsche, Language, Concept, Knowledge, Truth, Tonal Subsoil, Gesture Symbolism

Nietzsche’nin Dil-Felsefe İlişkisine Dair Erken Dönem Görüşleri

Abstract

Bu makale Nietzsche’nin dil-felsefe ilişkisine dair erken dönem görüşlerinin yakın bir okumasını sunmaktadır. Bu analiz birkaç ana tema etrafında yapılandırılmıştır. Birincisi, dilin müzikal ve metaforik unsurlarıyla ilgili olarak Nietzsche, dilin iki ana öğeden oluştuğunu öne sürmektedir: “tonal taban” ve “jest sembolizmi.” İkinci olarak, Nietzsche, müzikal olan öğenin diğerine olan önceliğini vurgular. Dahası, Nietzsche müzikal öğeyi Diyonizyak olanla, metaforik öğeyi ise Apollonikle ilişkilendirir. Bunların ışığında bu makale, Nietzsche düşüncesinde dil, felsefe ve “hakikat” arasındaki karmaşık ilişkinin izini sürer. Bilginin metaforik karakterine ve kendinde-şeyleri ifade etme konusundaki içsel yetersizliğine vurgu yapar. Çünkü bilgi, zorunlu olarak keyfi bir karakter taşımakta olan jest sembolizmiyle bağlantılıdır. Bunun yanı sıra, Nietzsche’nin dilin kökeni ve teleolojisi üzerine bakış açısı ve kavramların oluşumundaki “eşitsiz şeylerin eşitlemesiyle” karakterize edilen mantıksız işleyişe dair iddiası gibi konuları ele alır. Son olarak, dilin bize kavramlar aracılığıyla sunduğu dünyayı inceleyerek, bu dünyanın görüngüler dünyasıyla karşılaştırıldığında içsel bir güçsüzlükten muzdarip olduğunu vurgular. Bu tartışmalar aracılığıyla, bu makale, Nietzsche’nin erken döneminde rastladığımız ve özellikle bir bölümü literatürde sıklıkla ihmal edilmekte olan bu önemli düşüncelerine ışık tutmayı amaçlar.

Keywords

Nietzsche, Dil, Kavram, Bilgi, Hakikat, Tonal Taban, Jest Sembolizmi

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