Return to Saussure

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...