Nietzsche's Philosophy: A Critique of Western Culture

Nietzsche's Stages

Context: Three Phases

Youth/Romantic Period

During his youth, Nietzsche studied Greek culture and was influenced by Wagner's music and Schopenhauer's pessimism. This period deals with pre-Socratics like Heraclitus, emphasizing tragic thinkers, intellectual solitude, and a lucid approach. He critically examined Socrates, viewing moral reasoning as resentment and hatred towards life.

Transitional Period

In this non-positivist phase, Nietzsche draws upon experimental sciences to challenge the romantic values he previously held. This transforms him into a free spirit, opposing his former mentors.

Maturity Period

Nietzsche expounds on key themes like eternal recurrence, the death of God, and the superman. He strongly criticizes the Western cultural tradition.

Three Metamorphoses of the Spirit

The fable of the spirit's transformation—from camel to lion to child—symbolizes key aspects of Nietzsche's philosophy. The camel represents the spirit burdened by difficult tasks. The lion casts off these burdens, roaring in defiance. The child embodies innocence and a holy affirmation of life, proclaiming "I AM."

Nietzsche's Critique of Western Culture

Nietzsche's thinking involves a radical critique of Western culture. He challenges both its ancient and modern values and ideals, as well as the contemporary nihilism marked by passivity, boredom, disbelief, and indifference. He proposes vitalism, a life philosophy supporting genuine human values and ideals as the foundation for a new culture.

Historical Context

Nietzsche's work is best understood within its 19th-century context. This period was dominated by liberalism, socialism, and anarchism—political theories advocating social progress and democratic values, which Nietzsche disagreed with. He also contended with romanticism (an irrational worldview combining aesthetic values with pessimism) and positivism (a philosophy valuing science and progress). Nietzsche, initially romantic and positivist, ultimately transcended both with a philosophy reflecting his era's influences, particularly late romanticism.

Nihilism

By the late 19th century, early symptoms of contemporary nihilism—laziness, fatigue, skepticism, tolerance, lack of ideals, and devaluation of values—emerged in European culture. Nietzsche's philosophy directly confronts this nihilism, both present and future. He not only diagnosed the nascent nihilism of his time but also prophetically foresaw the full-blown nihilism of our day.