Return to Saussure

Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche’s intricate relationship with Italian, French, and German literary traditions forms a crucial aspect of his cultural critique. Although he did not produce major works in Italian or French, his fluency in French and extended stays in Italy profoundly shaped his views on language and culture. He regarded Italian and French as languages that retained a closer affinity to the ideals of Latin and Greek, which he admired for their clarity, structure, and aesthetic form. By contrast, he found the contemporary German literary scene disconnected from these ancient roots, lacking the elegance and discipline he associated with classical antiquity. For him, writers like Goethe and Schiller represented a direct continuation of the Greek legacy, in sharp contrast to the popular authors of his time, whom he deemed superficial and derivative. This article examines Nietzsche’s admiration for Italian and French literary traditions, his sharp critique of modern Ge...

Introduction Ferdinand de Saussure is often regarded as a master of making clear-cut distinctions in linguistic theory—such as langue vs. parole , signifier vs. signified , syntagmatic vs. paradigmatic relations , and synchronic vs. diachronic analysis . These binaries, as handed down to us through secondary literature, have been central to his influence on structuralism and modern linguistics, shaping our understanding of language as a systematic structure. However, focusing solely on these dualities can lead to an oversimplified view of his ideas. A closer look at his discussion on the invariability and variability of the sign reveals a more nuanced perspective, where stability and change are not at odds but are intertwined. He suggests that signs evolve precisely because they endure over time, demonstrating that continuity enables transformation. This deeper integration of opposites challenges the view of Saussure as a rigid thinker bound to strict categories. The insight...