His Upbringing
Friedrich Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844, in the town of Röcken, near Lützen, in the Prussian Province of Saxony, which is now part of Germany.
Born into a modest family , Nietzsche’s father was the local Lutheran pastor which meant that Nietzsche was given teachings in the Christian faith quite early on , in fact he excelled at school in Christian theology and religion.
However, the core of his faith shook when his father died of a terminal brain disease at the young age of 35, despite being a good and faithful servant of the Lord.
According to some scholars, this unreasonable and unbearable suffering at a young and vulnerable age left Nietzsche with indelible marks which would go on to influence his philosophy later in life. He would later go on to write to live is to suffer and to survive is to find some meaning in suffering.
Life in Academia
While at University , he was introduced to the critiques of Christianity which forever lifted the veil of blind devotion from his eyes.
Later , he studied philology(the study of the history of languages) and did exceptionally well , so much so that he was appointed as the youngest professor of classical philology at the University of Basel.
However , he left his position after a short while because of his growing disinterest in academia and failing health. He would go on to live the rest of his sane life in seclusion in the Swiss Alps.
During this period of his life , he produced his most notable works , namely The Birth of Tragedy (1872), Untimely Meditations (1873-1876), Human, All Too Human (1878), Thus Spoke Zarathustra 1883-1885 (published in four parts) , Beyond Good and Evil (1886),On the Genealogy of Morality (1887) among others
His philosophy
God is dead
Nietzsche’s most famous line is -
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?
What was the holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives - who will wipe this blood off us?
What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?
This line gained him much disdain from the devout Christians and he was nicknamed the antichrist.
Ironically, in his posthumous work The Antichrist(1895), he stood his ground of rejecting Christianity.
Nietzsche was nihilist and downright rejected the existence of God or any higher entity but he knew that the European value system and society is based on Christian principles of denying of the self and rejection of identification with worldly pleasures of wealth and fame.
He labelled Christian’s modesty as weakness.
Art and culture as help
So, Nietzsche advocated for replacing religion with culture and the arts as the guiding light for human morality.
He absolutely despised the commercialization of the humanities in school, he believed that humanities were being force fed to students rather than being seen as tools to enlighten oneself.
Nietzsche loves Superman
Nietzsche coined the term Übermensch loosely translated as Superman. Nietzsche said the meaning of the brief and transitory life is the hands of the man himself.
Übermensch or Superman is an idealized version of oneself , one who overcomes his fears, faults and deficiencies. According to Nietzsche, we should strive towards being the Übermensch.
Envy is good
According to Nietzsche, if you envy someone , it is because you are capable of one day becoming that person.
He emphasised that envy sets up a perpetual cycle of self growth through self dissatisfaction and self rediscovery. He said that only Christians didn’t believe in envy because envy is the motivator of power and success.
The influence of Nietzsche’s personal life on his work
Friedrich Nietzsche's personal life profoundly influenced his work in various ways:
1. Health Issues
Art and culture as help
So, Nietzsche advocated for replacing religion with culture and the arts as the guiding light for human morality.
He absolutely despised the commercialization of the humanities in school, he believed that humanities were being force fed to students rather than being seen as tools to enlighten oneself.
Nietzsche loves Superman
Nietzsche coined the term Übermensch loosely translated as Superman. Nietzsche said the meaning of the brief and transitory life is the hands of the man himself.
Übermensch or Superman is an idealized version of oneself , one who overcomes his fears, faults and deficiencies. According to Nietzsche, we should strive towards being the Übermensch.
Envy is good
According to Nietzsche, if you envy someone , it is because you are capable of one day becoming that person.
He emphasised that envy sets up a perpetual cycle of self growth through self dissatisfaction and self rediscovery. He said that only Christians didn’t believe in envy because envy is the motivator of power and success.
The influence of Nietzsche’s personal life on his work
Friedrich Nietzsche's personal life profoundly influenced his work in various ways:
1. Health Issues
Nietzsche suffered from numerous health problems throughout his life, including migraines, digestive issues, and eventually mental breakdowns.
His struggles with illness and pain are reflected in his philosophical ideas, particularly in his exploration of suffering, resilience, and the will to power.
2. Loneliness and Solitude
His struggles with illness and pain are reflected in his philosophical ideas, particularly in his exploration of suffering, resilience, and the will to power.
2. Loneliness and Solitude
Nietzsche spent much of his life in solitude and struggled with feelings of loneliness.
This solitude allowed him to delve deeply into his thoughts and ideas, leading to the development of his unique philosophical perspectives on topics such as individualism, existentialism, and the importance of self-discovery.
3. Relationships
This solitude allowed him to delve deeply into his thoughts and ideas, leading to the development of his unique philosophical perspectives on topics such as individualism, existentialism, and the importance of self-discovery.
3. Relationships
Although Nietzsche had significant relationships with several individuals, including his friendship with Richard Wagner and his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, many of these relationships were complicated and often ended in conflict.
These personal dynamics influenced Nietzsche's writings on friendship, love, and the complexities of human relationships.
4. Family Background
Nietzsche's upbringing in a strict Protestant household, as the son of a Lutheran pastor, influenced his views on religion and morality.
His critical examination of Christian values and the concept of God's death in his famous phrase God is dead reflects his upbringing and his rebellion against traditional religious beliefs.
5. Intellectual Influence
His critical examination of Christian values and the concept of God's death in his famous phrase God is dead reflects his upbringing and his rebellion against traditional religious beliefs.
5. Intellectual Influence
Nietzsche's personal experiences with academic life, including his tenure as a professor and his disillusionment with the academic establishment, influenced his critique of institutionalized education and traditional modes of scholarship.
He emphasized the importance of independent thinking and intellectual courage in his works.
Overall, Nietzsche's personal experiences, including his health struggles, relationships, upbringing, and intellectual journey, deeply shaped his philosophical ideas and contributed to the development of his unique and influential worldview.
Final Thoughts
The essence of Nietzsche can be captured by his quote -
He emphasized the importance of independent thinking and intellectual courage in his works.
Overall, Nietzsche's personal experiences, including his health struggles, relationships, upbringing, and intellectual journey, deeply shaped his philosophical ideas and contributed to the development of his unique and influential worldview.
Final Thoughts
The essence of Nietzsche can be captured by his quote -
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music
So yes, as Eric Weiner put it Some philosophers shock. Many argue. A few inspire, only Nietzsche danced.
Nietzsche wanted you to be boldly and unapologetically yourself.
Written by Niamat Kaur Gill
This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content you can contact on this email address - niamatkgwork@gmail.com
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