On Nietzsche / by Alexxx

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a nineteenth century German philsopher. Appointed at the age of 24 to the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel, he was the youngest individual ever to have held this position. He quickly justified the confidence that had been placed in him, with a revolutionary account of the Greek tragic theatre. Among his most influential and important works are "Beyond Good and Evil" (1886) and "The Genealogy of Morals" (1887). Nietzsche's works remain controversial and there is widespread disagreement about their interpretation and significance. Part of the difficulty in interpreting Nietzsche arises from the uniquely provocative style of his philosophical writings. Some of his ideas challange Christianity, not only the Gospel morality, but of the personality of Jesus, with whom he never ceased to compare himself. Nietzsche associates slave-morality with the Jewish and Christian (Judaeo-Christian) traditions. Here, value emerges from the contrast between good and evil, where good is associated with charity, poverty, restraint, self-sacrifice and evil seen in the cruel, selfish, wealthy, indulgent and aggresive. He sees the slave morality as a social illness that has overtaken Europe. In Neitzsche's eyes Christianity exists in a hypocritcal state wherein people preach love and kindness which makes people weak and kills their creativity and the power of the intellect.

One of his best-known remarks is a statement "God is dead". On the basis of this, Neitzsche is obviously reggarded as an atheist. In his view recent developments in modern science and the increasing secularization of European society had effectively `killed` the Christian God, who had served as the basis for the meaning and value in the West for more than a thousand years.

Alexxx P 24/10/08

Nietzsche's Anti-Christian Perspective. By Alexxx

Nietzsche's philosophical stance leads him to compare Socrates favourably with Jesus Christ. This approach is typical of the Nietzschian perspective and will be discussed in greater depth in this blog. The quotation below, however, sets the scene for this discussion:

'If all goes well, the time will come when one will take up the memorabilia of Socrates rather than the Bible as a guide to morals and reason... The pathways of the most various philosophical modes of life lead back to him... Socrates excels the founder of Christianity in being able to be serious cheerfully and in possessing that wisdom full of roguishness that constitutes the finest state of the human soul. And he also possessed the finer intellect. '

from Nietzsche's The Wanderer and his Shadow

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This blog has been set up in order to facilitate exchange on selected topics in Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies. It is hoped that it will provide a forum for the sharing of ideas among A' Level students working in the above areas, and that many will feel free to contribute articles and comment, whether directly relevant to their A level studies, or from their wider reading and research.

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