Nietzsche and Other Exponents of Individualism

In 1914, American philosopher Paul Carus mounted a rigorous critique of Friedrich Nietzsche and the individualist philosophy that would come to define modern existentialism. Carus, a proponent of scientific objectivity and ethical monism, found in Nietzsche's celebration of the "overman" and rejection of moral norms a dangerous subjectivity that threatened the foundations of rational thought and communal ethics. The book presents a stark dichotomy: philosophy as Carus conceives it, a system integrating knowledge, emotion, and ethics grounded in truthfulness, versus the subjective, nihilistic philosophy epitomized by Nietzsche. Carus situates Nietzsche among other individualist thinkers, subjecting each to careful critique while defending an alternative vision where truth remains objective and morality transcends personal preference. The work captures a pivotal moment in American intellectual history, when philosophers were grappling with European existentialism's implications. For readers interested in the origins of contemporary debates about relativism versus absolute truth, Carus's rigorous engagement remains essential.