About Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche: A Brief Overview

Friedrich Nietzsche is regarded as the first existentialist philosopher. He was associated with Danish thinker Soren Kierkegaard. His philosophy has influenced leading figures in all areas of culture, including poets, novelists, and dancers. Aside from being a philosopher, Nietzsche was also a painter and was highly influential in the fields of sociology and social revolution. The following is a brief overview of Nietzsche's life and works.

Illogicality in Nietzsche's Writings

As a philosopher, Nietzsche's writings have been criticised for being illogical, systematic, and disorganized. His writings lack coherence and logical argumentation, but are full of bold statements, jokes, contradictions, and quick changes of topic. This is not to say that Nietzsche is unintelligible, but it can be helpful when trying to understand the broader picture. The aphorism "monster fights" is one of his best-known works.

Influences and Education

While studying in Bonn, Nietzsche was influenced by two professors. Friedrich Wilhelm Ritschl, a classics scholar, focused on biblical texts, while Otto Jahn focused on classical literature. Nietzsche also became acquainted with Richard Wagner's music through his acquaintance with Schonkraut. Ultimately, Nietzsche's works would form the core of his own philosophy. This was a time of great change. So, it's no wonder that his works were so influential during his life.

Health Struggles and Military Service

Nietzsche was never in good health. His military service included participation in the Franco-Prussian War. He participated in the siege of Metz. He was witness to the traumatic effects of war. As a result, he contracted diphtheria and dysentery. While he was in the army, his health suffered. He also suffered a chest injury while leap-mounting into his saddle. Nietzsche returned to Leipzig to resume his studies in 1868. At this time, he was introduced to composer Richard Wagner.

Early Life and Family

Friedrich Nietzsche's childhood was a difficult time. His father, Carl Ludwig Nietzsche, had died before he could turn five. Nietzsche's parents, meanwhile, raised him with five women, who were both supportive of his writing. Nietzsche's father was a minister at Rocken. He was later appointed to the position by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. The father of Friedrich Nietzsche's children, however, died before his fifth birthday, and his mother remained there.

Nietzsche's Philosophies and Freedom

Despite these shortcomings, Nietzsche's philosophies still stand up. While many philosophers claim that they have an important contribution to make to culture, Nietzsche argues that liberal institutions cease to be liberal once they are well-established. In this sense, they are the greatest enemy of freedom. They are the poison of human freedom. The doctrine of equality appears to be the doctrine of justice, but it is the very opposite. It is the corollary of never making unequals equal.

Artists and Philosophers as Geniuses

The philosophic geniuses he admires in other works have often been identified as the paradigms for artistic and philosophic genius. As a result, Nietzsche asserts that the highest human beings are the artists and philosophers, who must be educated. Hence, he also views himself as an artist. While Nietzsche admired and appreciated Wagner, he regarded Schopenhauer as a "respectable" role model for the creative process.

Education and Influences

Friedrich Nietzsche attended a top-notch boarding school near his home in Naumburg. The school he attended was called Schulpforta and had a history of 1137-1540. In addition to its great classical education, Nietzsche also studied theology and classical philology at the University of Bonn. The German composer Robert Schumann was also an influence on Nietzsche's philosophy and music.

The Gay Science and Existential Ideas

In his most famous work, The Gay Science, Nietzsche argued that God is dead and that the human mind is the only absolute reality. His existential ideas were a big influence on the worldview of modern culture. He questioned the validity of absolute values and the role of religion. In addition, his philosophy was based on a fundamental principle of life: "the mediocre is better than the exception."

Responsibility and Human Happiness

Those who are lazy and unwilling to take responsibility for their own life and actions will ultimately be excluded from the history of true liberation of life. The eras ruled by public opinion will be discredited in future generations as their relics. True human happiness depends on taking responsibility for our existence. And when we do that, our own opinions are rarely above the level of landrunners. And what does this mean for us?