The Apollonian and Dionysian — Explaining Nietzsche
In The Birth of Tragedy
The Apollonian and Dionysian are terms used by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book The Birth of Tragedy, from 1872, where he explores the tension between those two opposing forces in art, but that could be applied to life. This concept has been applied to various aspects of culture, such as music, painting, philosophy, and literature, leading some to suggest that Apollonian/Dionysian duality may be inherent in human nature itself.
Apollonian values are grounded in logical thought and its adherents strive to develop clear, rational philosophy which seeks to bring meaning and understanding to life’s complexities. Nietzsche argued that by relying solely on the Apollonian aspects of ourselves we can become too rigid in our thinking and fail to take into account the subjective views offered by our emotions.
On the other hand, Dionysian values embrace chaos, passion, emotion, and pleasure as essential parts of life. Nietzsche believed that by embracing these wilder sides of ourselves, we could achieve an authentic connection with our true nature, ultimately leading us closer to enlightenment. Nietzsche argued that we must be open-minded enough to explore different perspectives, even if they go against conventional wisdom or accepted beliefs.
