The Four Stages of Friedrich Nietzsche's Philosophy

The Life and Philosophical Journey of Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche was born into a family closely associated with Christianity; his father was a pastor. He received training at the famous school Schulpforta and developed an early interest in music. A series of debilitating diseases began early in his life and persisted until his death.

He began studying philology and later discovered Arthur Schopenhauer, who fascinated him. He obtained the chair of philology at a young age and befriended Richard Wagner, though they later broke their friendship. His illness forced him to abandon his academic post and begin a life as a wandering traveler, accompanied by his chronic ailments. On the banks of a lake in Switzerland, he received inspiration for the concept of the eternal recurrence and the central idea of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. A collapse in a public place led to his institutionalization and eventual dependence on his family's care.

Nietzsche's thought can be divided into four distinct periods, which he associated with a time of day:

1. Romantic Period: Philosophy of the Night

This period refers to the Basel years. Nietzsche drew upon the Pre-Socratics, Wagner, and Schopenhauer. He considered art as a means of penetrating reality. Dionysus is the figure representing the authentic attitude toward life in this period.

2. Positivist or Enlightenment Period: Philosophy of the Morning

This phase was marked by early travel. Nietzsche broke his relationship with Wagner and Schopenhauer. He was now inspired by the French Enlightenment (e.g., Voltaire) and began to condemn positivist metaphysics, religion, and art. His representative figure is the "Free Spirit" (or "free man").

Key works from this period include:

• Human, All Too Human (where he denounces the ideals of Western civilization)
• Aurora
• The Gay Science

3. The Message of Zarathustra: Philosophy of Noon

This marks the highest point of his work, where his thought reaches its zenith. His seminal work from this time is Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None. Fundamental concepts appearing in this work include:

• The Eternal Recurrence
• The Übermensch (Superman)

Nietzsche identifies Dionysus with Zarathustra, who embodies the new philosophical ideal.

4. Critical Period: Philosophy of Twilight

Nietzsche's works following Zarathustra change direction, focusing on a direct attack on all of Western culture:

• Philosophy
• Religion
• Morality

This period is represented by Zarathustra descending from the heights to the depths where civilization was undermined by impending nihilism. The central figure is the philosopher with a hammer, who curses the Last Man—the one who precedes the Übermensch.