Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, the most notable misfit of 19th century literature met his bitter end 120 years ago, yesterday.
Nietzsche, known for his infectious veracity and thought provoking aphorisms transcended philosophical theory well into and beyond the 21st century. Regarded as a extreme precursor of moral evaluation, Friedrich Nietzsche has helped filled the existential void and reshaped moral authority in many people’s lives.
Generally known for his vast influence among Nazi Germany, Nietzsche was actually not a fan of nationalists or any social groups included in politics. “Socialism itself can hope to exist only for brief periods here and there, and then only through the exercise of the extremest terrorism. For this reason it is secretly preparing itself for rule through fear and is driving the word “justice” into the heads of the half-educated masses like a nail so as to rob them of their reason… and to create in them a good conscience for the evil game they are to play.” — Human, All Too Human.
His theories at that time were considered controversial and even repulsive by his peer group, but his intellectual honesty fueled the foundation for free thought.
Nietzsche was largely influenced by the pessimistic tones of Schopenhauer, a German philosopher best known for his 1818 work “The World as Will and Representation”. His brilliant mind still managed to overshadow his dark nature, and pessimistic thoughts, even more importantly the populist thought at that time. He created alot of enemies with his unmerciful criticisms of institutions in his time span, most notably, Christians and politicians. He oftenly attacked ill-mannered organizations using intense, and descriptive allusions and symbolism.
Unlike his predecessors he did not argue for any specific worldview on life. He did not care for any particular ethical code, and often left his writings open for interpretation.
Born Oct.15th, 1844, his father was a Lutheran minister who died early in his childhood. His mother with hopes of him following in his father’s footsteps encouraged him to study theology, but after attending the University of Bonn he switched to a career in philology. He earned his professorship of Basel in Switzerland at just the tender age of 24.
Late in the 1870s, after getting bored with academia, Nietzsche ended his professorship and began his quest for the theoretical unknown.
He worked tirelessly throughout the 1880s, through physical and mental decline. In this time span, he produced "The Gay Science," "Thus Spoke Zarathrustra," and most famously "Beyond Good and Evil."
On January 3rd, 1889, he fell into a manic decay. After leaving his lodgings in Turin, Nietzsche ran into a horse being beaten by it’s owner. He was almost arrested for disturbing the peace, but was rescued by his landlord and returned home. The last 11 years of his life he spent under the care of his greedful sister.
Despite his untimely, and short philosophical ending, his ideas have lived on through centuries of turmoil, and unrest, and will continue to do so. He continues to inspire a new generation of extraordinary geniuses, even through the likes of former Black Panthers Party founder, Huey P. Newton.
“One must shed the bad taste of wanting to agree with many. "Good" is no longer good when one’s neighbor mouths it. And how should there be a "common good"! The term contradicts itself: whatever can be common always has little value. In the end it must be as it is and always has been: great things remain for the great, abysses for the profound, nuances and shudders for the refined, and, in brief, all that is rare for the rare.” — Beyond Good and Evil.
https://lordsofjune.com, coming soon.
