Nietzsche: Historical, Cultural, and Philosophical Context

Nietzsche: Historical and Philosophical Context

Historical-Cultural Context

The nineteenth century was marked by dramatic changes caused by the Industrial Revolution and the triumph of capitalism. Growth was due to decreased mortality and increased birth rates arising from greater knowledge of disease. This resulted in theoretical debate, such as the doctrine of Malthus. Population growth led to a shift of population from rural areas to cities.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain, followed by France and Belgium. Along with this revolution, there was also the Agricultural Revolution, which increased productivity and reduced the need for manpower in the field. The development of the revolution gave rise to two opposing social groups: the bourgeoisie and the workers. The working class began to develop a sense of class consciousness. The International Workers Association was established in London.

On the political side, Liberalism emerged, a progressive doctrine that advocates for freedom in all sectors. In the economic sphere, it defends private property. Politically, it argues for parliamentary representative government, but with voting based on census and intellectual criteria. Intellectually, it stands for tolerance and opposes dogmatism. Traditionalism, a conservative doctrine, defends the social and political legitimacy of building on tradition. New political phenomena emerged, such as revolution and restoration, as well as the rise of nationalism.

Romanticism also appeared in opposition to the Enlightenment. While enlightened reason was empirical, analytical, and finite, Romanticism was idealistic, synthetic, and infinite. In philosophy, this gave rise to German Idealism. Positivism also appeared as a reaction to Romanticism, modeled on experimental science and advocating a concept of scientific reason.

Nietzsche took part in the Franco-Prussian War (1870), from which he developed a deep rejection of Germany and nationalism.

Philosophical Context

During the second half of the 19th century, a current called Positivism emerged. This movement had clear antecedents in British empiricism, Kantian phenomenalism, and the Enlightenment idea of progress. Its main features are:

• Science as the only valid form of knowledge.
• Critique of metaphysics. All that is beyond the knowledge of the senses has no validity.
• Rejection of all metaphysical and religious values that limit humanity, leading to unlimited progress in the social and cultural life of mankind. The fundamental factor that influenced the philosophy of Positivism in this era was the prodigious development of science in general.

Against this scientific environment, a number of theories emerged that can be defined as a philosophy of life. One of the most important is that of Nietzsche.

Arthur Schopenhauer deserves special mention as a strong influence on Nietzsche. Nietzsche completed his departure from the pessimism of Schopenhauer's life philosophy by denying pain, as claimed by Schopenhauer, and also negating life itself.