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Abstract This article explores how Friedrich Nietzsche and Ferdinand de Saussure use economic metaphors to conceptualize the value of abstract entities—freedom and meaning, respectively. Nietzsche frames freedom as a relational construct, whose worth arises from struggle and opposition, drawing parallels with economic principles of cost and scarcity. Similarly, Saussure describes linguistic units as acquiring significance through contrasts within a broader system, borrowing the economic notion of value to elucidate relational dynamics in language. By analyzing these parallels, the article argues that economic metaphors serve as a powerful tool to bridge abstract concepts with tangible systems, offering interdisciplinary insights into the nature of value and meaning across philosophy, linguistics, and beyond. 1. Introduction What do liberty and language have in common? At first glance, they seem worlds apart, yet both derive their significance not from intrinsic properties but th...

Abstract: This article examines Friedrich Nietzsche's use of war metaphors in the Third Lecture of On the Future of Our Educational Institutions through the lens of conceptual metaphor theory, as articulated by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. In this lecture, Nietzsche describes the struggle between the classical and contemporary didactic ideals using language evocative of combat, conflict, and resistance. By analyzing these tropes, this article explores how Nietzsche’s perception of an ideological battle within the schooling system reflects deeper cultural anxieties of his time. It argues that Nietzsche’s symbolic framing reveals a binary tension not only between pedagogical ideals but also between opposing forces in society—such as the elite versus the masses, traditional wisdom versus modern pragmatism. Ultimately, the analysis suggests that Nietzsche’s allegories signal a broader critique of the cultural and intellectual decay he perceived in 19th-century Germany, framing...

Abstract Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of his contemporaries in Twilight of the Idols , particularly in “What the Germans Are Missing,” reveals his deep dissatisfaction with the intellectual shallowness of his time. While he extols the systematic brilliance of figures like Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Goethe, Nietzsche paradoxically overlooks his own pivotal role in heralding a philosophical paradigm shift. This article explores his ironic nostalgia for a bygone era, his downplaying of German contributions, and his admiration for Parisian thought, all while laying the groundwork for modern French philosophy. By contrasting his legacy with figures like Heidegger and Derrida, this analysis clarifies his influence and situates his work within the broader intellectual transition from the epoch of the logos to a fragmented, interpretative mode of thinking. Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche occupies a unique position as both a critic of his time and a harbinger of transformative phil...

Objective To analyze Nietzsche’s critique of morality as a social construct, emphasizing its symbolic nature and relational meaning, while acknowledging its practical relevance within communities. Drawing on Peirce’s semiotic framework, the article will demonstrate how moral signs interact with reality through icons and indices. It will also examine the role of religious codes, their divine framing, and the duality of benefits and restrictions they impose on individuals within a community. 1. Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols presents a provocative critique of moral systems, arguing that they are symbolic constructs imposed to regulate human behavior. He contends that ethics is often underpinned by a false claim of divine origin, strategically employed to ensure compliance. By framing ethical rules as sacred mandates, authorities mask their human invention, transforming pragmatic societal guidelines into seemingly eternal laws. However, Charles Sand...

Objective This article delves into Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of ethical constructs as shaped by cultural, historical, and psychological conditions, interpreted through the lens of semiotics. It draws on Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory of signs and Roland Barthes’s concept of second-order systems to examine morality as a symbolic framework dependent on relational meaning rather than intrinsic truths. By exploring Nietzsche’s depiction of ethical codes as a “sign language” and a “symptomatology,” the analysis highlights how semiotic theory deepens our understanding of his critique of moral absolutism. Furthermore, it underscores the broader applicability of semiotics in dissecting the hidden structures that underlie not only moral systems but also other cultural phenomena. 1. Introduction In Twilight of the Idols , Friedrich Nietzsche critiques traditional moral codes, describing them as symbolic constructs rooted in cultural and psychological contexts rather than objective ...