Just Finished
This was a wonderful little book written by someone who obviously loves the subject – but is not above criticising where such criticism is due. Moving in a chronological fashion from his earliest works, Tanner outlines Nietzsche’s thought processes as he attempted to grapple with the ideas of the horror and pain of life (and how we deal with that) and the underlying idea of meaning (or lack thereof).
Nietzsche himself is easy to read – in the sense that he writes in a very modern, poetic and often beautiful way - though far from easy to really understand (at least I have problems understanding him!) but Tanner’s book certainly helps with that. The author not only exhibits a clear love of the subject but is blessed with the ability to communicate that love to his readership. Tanner is concerned to put Nietzsche’s work into both historical and philosophical context as well as showing how the philosophers deteriorating mental condition affected his work. This he does very well indeed. Hitting the highlights of Nietzsche’s works the author lays out before his reader the crux of what he was trying (and often failing) to get across to his audience.
Nietzsche has had a huge impact on European philosophy and politics since his death in 1900 and the 20th Century is actually difficult to understand without reference to him. He was clearly a genius, probably ahead of his time and much misunderstood. Despite all of this he is very readable and rewards the effort taken in reading him. I’m looking forward to studying Nietzsche next year and you’ll certainly be hearing more of him in the coming months.
5 comments:
I always correct people when they say Nietzche was a nazi (or the founder of nazi ideology).
We have Hitler to blame for that. A sad, twister little man who warped Nietzche's philosophy until it was barely recognisable.
I'm a big Nietzsche fan. This book sounds like it'd be a good read.
Hitler and Stalin may have been influenced by Nietzsche, but they just cherry-picked the parts that suited their purposes (not unlike other philosophers and even the Bible).
Dr S said: I always correct people when they say Nietzche was a nazi (or the founder of nazi ideology).
Its a very common misconception.
dbackdad said: I'm a big Nietzsche fan. This book sounds like it'd be a good read.
Its a good introduction but I don't know what value it would be to a big fan of the man [grin]. It might be worth you checking it out though.
dbackdad said: Hitler and Stalin may have been influenced by Nietzsche, but they just cherry-picked the parts that suited their purposes (not unlike other philosophers and even the Bible).
It seems that just about everyone cherry-picked Nietzsche - but he's just so *easy* to do that with. I think he would definitely hate what has been said & done in his name.
I have some familiarity with Nietzsche,the *will to power* and how he sees Christianity as being weak. I agree with you cyberkitten he as well as Freud have greatly influenced the 20th century. I do think ultimately his ideas are akin to nihilistic darwinism. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Robert.
Robert said: I do think ultimately his ideas are akin to nihilistic darwinism. Just my 2 cents.
Actually Nietzsche was (as I understand him) violently opposed to Nihilism & spent all of his philosophical life fighting against the idea.
Post a Comment