Nietzsche’s Perspectivism, Internal Reasons, and the Problem of Justiication Peter Seipel ABSTRACT: Recent years have seen a number of interpreters defend the claim that Ni- etzsche’s perspectivism is an epistemological doctrine. This interpretation of perspectivism leads to the worry that Nietzsche cannot offer any arguments for his view by means of which he may convince his opponents. To rescue Nietzsche from this justiicatory problem, some interpreters have recently turned to the notion of “internal reasons,” or reasons that have force within multiple perspectives because they are based on shared standards. In this paper I show that the task for supporters of Nietzsche is considerably more complex than it may seem at irst sight. I argue that there is no way to know in advance of empirical investigation on a case-by-case basis whether perspectivism can be saved from undermining any compelling reasons that Nietzsche might provide in its defense. A NUMBER OF INTERPRETERS have defended the view that Nietzsche’s perspectivism is an epistemological doctrine. 1 Perspectivism, on this interpre- tation, is a claim about rationality or justiication rather than a claim about truth. 2 Roughly speaking, it is the view that the norms or standards of rationality to which a particular community appeals in assessing the justiicatory status of a belief are contingent and variable. This interpretation of perspectivism leads to the following concern: How can Nietzsche offer compelling reasons for his perspectivism by means of which he may convince his opponents? Perspectivism claims that reason is tied to particular perspectives and informed by particular subjective considerations such as interests, needs, desires, affects, taste, and the like. Any reasons that Nietzsche 1 I will use the following abbreviations to refer to Nietzsche’s works: A The Anti-Christ, translated by Walter Kaufmann, in The Portable Nietzsche (New York NY: Viking, 1954). BGE Beyond Good and Evil, translated by Walter Kaufmann (New York NY: Vintage, 1966). EH Ecce Homo, translated by Walter Kaufmann (New York NY: Vintage, 1967). HAH Human, All Too Human, translated by Marion Faber and Stephen Lehmann (Lincoln NE: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1984). GM On the Genealogy of Morals, translated by Walter Kaufmann (New York NY: Vintage, 1967). GS The Gay Science, translated by Walter Kaufmann (New York NY: Vintage, 1974). TI Twilight of the Idols, translated by Walter Kaufmann, in The Portable Nietzsche (New York NY: Viking, 1954). WP Will to Power, translated by Walter Kaufmann and R. J. Hollingdale (New York NY: Vintage, 1967). Z Thus Spoke Zarathustra, translated by Walter Kaufmann (New York NY: Viking, 1954). 2 For a different view, see Steven D. Hales and Rex Welshon, Nietzsche’s Perspectivism (Chicago IL: Univ. of Illinois Press, 2000). International Philosophical Quarterly Vol. 55, No. 1, Issue 217 (March 2015) pp. 49–65 doi: 10.5840/ipq20152929