Nietzsche's Philosophy: Life, Art, and the Crisis of Reason

Historical Context: The 19th Century Crisis of Reason

The nineteenth century was an extremely agitated period, often called the "century of revolutions." It followed the pivotal French Revolution of 1789, which toppled the old regime and sparked profound economic and social change across Europe. During this time, science experienced a period of euphoria, seen as a tool capable of satisfying all human needs. However, from 1870, faith in reason and progress began to crumble. Political instability also heralded the beginning of an economic crisis that would arrive at the end of the century.

In philosophy, the most influential system was Hegelianism, which proposed a new concept of reason distinct from that of the Enlightenment. In summary, Nietzsche's era is seen as a time of crisis for reason. The very principle that had long guided Western thought began to be questioned.

In response to the perceived excessive use of reason in Hegel's idealism and Comte's positivism, a new stream of thought called vitalism emerged. These movements had clear precedents in:

• Empiricism
• Kantian phenomenalism
• The Enlightenment's idea of progress

Thus, vitalism is a philosophy whose central axis is the exaltation of the vital and emotional over the rational, defending irrationalism and the affirmation of life as the fundamental reality for human beings.

Nietzsche's Philosophy and Its Modern Resonance

The Death of God and Modern Religion

The concept of the "death of God" is reflected in our culture today, which is often characterized by living beyond traditional religion. For example, Christianity and Catholicism have lost the influence they once had. Belief in God has become less solid, with individuals adopting and modifying faith according to personal interests and subjective criteria, effectively turning it into a consumer article. This phenomenon can be linked to the "death of God" as proclaimed by Nietzsche.

Vitalism: The Affirmation of Life

For Nietzsche, vitalism is about living in the moment, surrendering a transcendent view of life to feel its weight and find meaning within life itself. This vitality is identified with happiness, the cult of the body, and other worldly pursuits.

Art, Language, and Subjective Reality

Nietzsche spoke of the plurality and subjectivity of metaphor. He argued that the only possible relationship to reality is aesthetic. This is reflected in modern art, where the emotion that inspires the author may not coincide with that of the viewer, yet both the emotion and the interpretation are considered valid.

Critique of Modern Culture

Modern culture, Nietzsche argued, has opted for the image, leading to a generalization of culture for mass consumption. This culture is designed to be simple, easy, immediate, and futile, which in turn creates a homogenization of taste.

A New Vision for Education

In education, Nietzsche critiqued a system where both learner and teacher uphold not truth, but tradition, majority opinion, or the appearance of the professor's unquestionable authority. Therefore, he proposes a reason that is not a slave to instincts but instead seeks to satisfy them in the most intelligent and effective way.