Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Kristin Krapp

Summary of Life:
Born 1844 in Rcken,Germany
Father (Lutheran pastor) died when he was 4
Studied philology in Bonn and Leipzig
Exceptional student offered academic position at the Uni of
Basel at age of 24 before completing doctorate
Volunteered as medical orderly in Franco-Prussian War in 1870
Returned to Basel after, with dysentery, diphtheria and
syphilis
1872: 1st Book The Birth of Tragedy
Lived in Switzerland until 1889:
o Got very sick migraines, insomnia, indigestion, eyesight
got very bad (partially blind)
o Despite his illnesseshe wrote 11 Books within 10 years (but
sold very poorly)
1889 Nietzsche collapsed on the street and lost his sanity
o Cared for by his half sister
o She promoted his works and him as a proto-Nazi saint
o Became famous in the 1890s
o Was a national celebrity at his death in 1900
After his death he was often associated with the politics of
the Nazi party
His reputation only cleared after World War 2
Philosophy
Was a very criticized and controversial philosopher of his time
constructed statements that were against all beliefs and morals
of the society he lived in
Was aware of his effect and influence on society and believed
that only later generations would be able to truly
understand him
Wanted to be true to himself and question all principles of human
life and society
One of the first existentialists
o philosophical movement that believes in the uniqueness
and isolation of ones individual experience and it regards
human existence as unexplainable, and stresses
freedom of choice and responsibility for the
consequences of one's acts.

Believed that Christianity is pure hypocrisy

o its only goal is to make mankind slaves of their own beliefs
by scaring them through endless torture
o People believe, not because they want to, but
because they are scared not to believe
Didnt believe in sin believed that a person is neither bad
nor good but an animal, whose actions and goals are driven by
faith
Replaces truth, moral and religion with nihilism
o the belief that traditional morals, ideas, beliefs, etc.,
have no worth or value
His future perception of mankind was the bermensch ( to
reach a higher level of human being)
o In order to get there the human has to go through 3
stages:
Dependency on authorities and masters
Escaping their powers, fighting for its
freedom/liberty
Steering towards their own values and final
goals
His statements especially regarding the bermensch - were
later often abused by the Nazi Regime