The Jan Hus Analogy in Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil §24

Abstract

Beyond Good and Evil is often, although not universally, regarded as Nietzsche’s most important work of philosophy. The second part of this book, “The Free Spirit,” is often regarded as the most important part of this book. Yet the opening aphorism 24 of this part – arguably the most important part of arguably Nietzsche’s most important book – has not received the attention it deserves. This essay focuses on the analogy between the philosopher and the Czech free thinker Jan Hus which structures this part. It focuses on the use which Nietzsche makes of this analogy and its relationship to his views about free causality and natural determinism.