Friedrich Nietzsche and the Intellectual Climate of the 19th Century

The Historical Context of Friedrich Nietzsche

The Agitated Nineteenth Century

The nineteenth century was an extremely agitated era. Often known as the century of revolutions, this unrest originated at the end of the previous century, when the French Revolution of 1789 dismantled the old regime and triggered profound economic and social changes throughout Europe.

The Rise of Positivism

In the second half of the century, a philosophical and scientific current known as positivism came to dominate Europe. Created by Auguste Comte and developed by John Stuart Mill, this movement had clear precedents in English empiricism, Kantian phenomenalism, and the Enlightenment's idea of progress.

Essential Features of Positivism

• Scientific Supremacy: Admiration for science as the only valid form of knowledge.
• Anti-Metaphysical Stance: A critical attitude toward metaphysics; thinkers argued that anything beyond sensory knowledge is invalid and nonsensical.
• Unlimited Progress: The belief in the infinite progress of society and human moral capacity. Once metaphysical and religious values—which were seen as limiting—were discarded, humanity would achieve unlimited social and cultural advancement.

Scientific Advancements

The key factor influencing positivism was the prodigious development of science:

• Physics: The discovery of X-rays, radioactivity, and Planck's investigations into atoms.
• Biology: The advancements of Lamarck and Darwin, specifically the theory of natural evolution.

Nietzsche and the Philosophy of Life

Against this scientific and cultural environment, several theories emerged that can be defined as philosophies of life. One of the most important figures was Friedrich Nietzsche. A follower of Schopenhauer and a connoisseur of classical Greek philosophy, Nietzsche revolutionized the concepts that had dominated Western culture since Plato.

Transition to the Twentieth Century

In the early twentieth century, Europe was shaken by nationalist and imperialist ferments. Although these developed differently in each country, they shared a common tragic outcome: the First World War. Nietzsche, living in this time of transition, had a premonition of the impending catastrophes that would fundamentally change the values and way of life of the twentieth century.