Abstract

This dissertation examines Nietzsche's treatment of truth, both in his earlier writings and continuing in his latter works, and explores its socio-political implications. While rejecting the correspondence theory of truth, it is argued that what Nietzsche conceived of as the Apollinian and Dionysian psychological states are significantly useful concepts to an understanding of what manner of persons populate the political landscape of contemporary capitalist societies. The study rejects the Apollinian reality purely as a constraint on the creative possibilities of interpreting and constructing new worldviews, while remaining attentive to the need for an alternative view placed in the service of truth and hence of valued life. The socioeconomic elations specific to capitalism are examined for their Apollinian characteristics, and the prevailing mode of production is thus taken up as a significant constraint against the potentials for human creativity and development. The implications of Nietzsche's notion of the Dionysian are introduced, and indeed conceived of as vital to the offering of a deconstructive moment in the domains of art, politics and economic governance. Emphasizing the metaphorical character of truths in the actually-existing world, the dissertation concludes with proposed strategies for the capture of the deconstructive moment, possible at the level of the complexly-layered dimensions of linguistic and cognitive play on offer at the conjuncture of Apollinian and Dionysian realities, and promising truly liberatory new conceptions of truth.