I am the Chair and (co-)founder of the VNGW. I was born and live in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). I received my PhD in Philosophy in November 2007 at the University of Groningen, Institute for Philosophy at the Department for the History of (Modern) Philosophy, where I was appointed as PhD Student and Junior Lecturer. My dissertation Nietzsche’s Ideal Europe reconstructed Friedrich Nietzsche’s ideas on Europe.
MY PHD DISSERTATION: NIETZSCHE’S IDEAL EUROPE: AESTHETICIZATION AND DYNAMIC INTERCULTURALISM FROM THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY TO THE GAY SCIENCE.
This dissertation describes and analyses the development of Nietzsche’s ideal of European culture based on his musical aesthetics. It claims that Nietzsche always propagated the ‘aestheticization’ of Europe, but that the ways to achieve this changed as a result of his dramatically altering philosophy of music. The main focus is on Nietzsche’s Wagnerism and later anti-Wagnerism, and, in direct connection with this, his adoption of Goethe’s and Schiller’s aesthetics and philosophies of culture. Although this dissertation above all studies the historical roots of Nietzsche’s philosophy of European culture, it also seeks to determine the relevance of his pleas for ‘aestheticization’ and ‘dynamic interculturalism’ regarding Europe today.
My supervisors were Professor Detlev Pätzold, Professor Michel ter Hark, Professor Roger Stephenson (University of Glasgow).
MY SPECIALIZATIONS AND RESEARCH AREAS ARE:
*Nietzsche; *German Aesthetics; *History of Philosophy; *Philosophy of Music; *Philosophy of Culture; *Metaphysics
MY CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE:
1. ‘The Banner of the Musical Spirit: National Identity, Europe, and Cosmopolitanism in German Philosophy and Musical Culture 1772-1889.’
This research investigates the complex intertwining of reflections on national identity, the idea of Europe, and cosmopolitanism in German philosophy and musical culture 1772-1889, arguing first, that the dynamic interaction between music and philosophy lies at the root of German aesthetics and, second, that this must be recognized in order to understand fully the complex web of reflections on nationalism, Europe, and cosmopolitanism at that time. In this context, the research also reflects on political and ethical concepts of patriotism, Europe, and cosmopolitanism as developed by e.g. Kwame Appiah and Martha Nussbaum.
2. ‘“Joyful wisdom” in philosophy: Epicurus, Spinoza, Goethe, and Nietzsche’.
This research investigates the largely unrecognized philosophical tradition of ‘joyful wisdom’ that includes Epicurus, Spinoza, Goethe, and Nietzsche. My research researches this tradition, first, so as to uncover a highly neglected yet crucial tradition in the History of philosophy and, second, construct a modern concept of ‘joyful wisdom’ on the basis of this tradition in order to re-define and re-introduce ‘wisdom’ in philosophy.
My master thesis (2002) was on Nietzsche’s book and concept ‘Joyful Wisdom’. It was published in 2005 as Lof der Méditerranée: Nietzsches vrolijke wetenschap tussen noord en zuid (Kampen: Klement).
Next to my research projects, I am a co-worker of the Nietzsche-Wörterbuch (Berlin/ New York: Walter de Gruyter) and the Nietzsche-Lexicon (Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft). I am also translating a large, representative selection of Nietzsche’s poems into Dutch (together with Dr. Niels Helsloot).
INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS:
1. ‘Cosmopolitanism and the Modern World: from Kant to Nietzsche’. ZMO Seminar Ottoman Urban Studies. (Proceeding. To appear in 2008)
2. ‘Why Do We Need Myth? Homer, Nietzsche, and Helen’s Weaving-loom’ in: Paul Bishop, R.H. Stephenson (red.), Cultural Studies and the Symbolic 3. Leeds: Northern University Press (To appear in 2008)
3. ‘Cosmopolitan Roads to Culture and the Festival Road of Humanity: The cosmopolitan praxis of Nietzsche’s good European in light of Kant’s cosmopolitanism’ in: Ethical Perspectives, 2007-3, pp. 269-286 (peer-reviewed)
4. ‘The European Union Assessed from a post-Nietzschean, ‘New Aestheticist’ point of view’. (Proceeding IAA conference 2007)
5. ‘Nietzsche’s Artistic Ideal of Europea in the Spirit of Wagner’s Beethoven-essay’ in: Volker Gerhardt, Renate Reschke (eds.), Nietzsche und Europa. [Nietzscheforschung 14]. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2007, pp. 91-117
6. ‘“Im Süden”: Nietzsche, Goethe, and Italy’ in: Interculture 3 (Spring 2006)
7. ‘The Symbolization of Culture. Nietzsche in the Footsteps of Goethe, Schiller, Schopenhauer, and Wagner’ in: Paul Bishop, R. H. Stephenson (eds.), The Paths of Symbolic Knowledge (Cultural Studies and the Symbolic Vol. 2). Leeds: Maney, 2006, pp. 70-91
8. ‘Valuation and Revaluation of the Idyll, Schillerian Traces in Nietzsche’s Early Aesthetics’ in: Volker Gerhardt, Renate Reschke (red.), Friedrich Nietzsche – Zwishen Musik, Philosophie und Ressentiment [Nietzscheforschung 13]. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2006, pp. 269-278.
BOOK REVIEWS
1. Stefan L. Sorgner. H. James Birx/ Nikolaus Knoepffler (eds.), Wagner und Nietzsche, Kultur-Werk-Wirkung. Ein Handbuch. Rowohlt, 2008 in: Journal for Nietzsche Studies (in progress);
2. ‘Paulo D’Iorio (eds.), Nietzsche et l’Europe. Paris, 2006/ ‘Gérard Alvoët, Nietzsche et l’ Europe, « Nous autres, bons Européens »’ in: Journal for Nietzsche Studies (in progress) ;
3. Mary Ann Perkins en Martin Liebscher (eds.), Nationalism versus Cosmopolitanism in German Thought and Culture, 1789-1914: Essays on the Emergence of Europe. Tijdschrift voor Filosofie (in progress);
4. Michel Leezenberg, De vloek van Oedipus. Taal, democratie en geweld in de Griekse tragedie. Amsterdam: Van Gennep, 2006. In: Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte [Dutch Journal for Philosophy], Jrg. 98, Nr. 4, 2006, 318-319;
5. Ciano Aydin, Zijn en Worden. Nietzsches omduiding van het substantiebegrip. In: Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte [Dutch Journal for Philosophy], Jrg. 97, Nr. 2, 2005, 160-161.
I also wrote many journalistic articles and book reviews, amongst other things on Turkish literature for the daily Trouw.
NOTE: I also know everything about football (soccer) and was a professional soccer-player myself (in Turkey). So, if you want to chat about Nietzsche, literature, football, Turkish pop music, or women’s issues, feel free to contact me at: martineprange[AT]hotmail.com