Apollo, Dionysus, and Nietzsche’s Philosophy
Apollo and Dionysus: Genealogy of Tragedy
It is the first work inspired by Nietzsche’s Schopenhauer. Tragedy originated through the fusion of two opposing elements of the Greek spirit: the Dionysian and the Apollonian. Nietzsche opposes the classification of the history of Greece into three periods: a dark stage (ancient Greece), a glorious era (the period of Pericles and Socrates in the fourth century), and a final decadent phase (Hellenism). What appeared in ancient tragic drama is pure creativity and communion with the people. This problem is posed by the struggle between Apollo and Dionysus. Dionysus is found in the depths of tragedy, and Apollo on the surface.
Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, intoxication, and vegetation. His cult came from Thrace to Greece and was introduced relatively late, but it spread very quickly, especially in Attica. Apollo was a god of Olympus, god of the sun, light, and clarity; his main sanctuary was at Delphi. Apollo wants to overcome reality with the creation of a world of appearances, free and joyous.
Nietzsche’s Nihilism
A philosophy that can make new proposals with a hammer. Diagnostics of our culture, and everything comes from a unique instinct (not reason, the will of God, or fear for life). From the idea of a unique instinct comes nihilism (from Latin *nihil*, meaning nothing): an absolute negation of cultural patterns, believing in nothing. Nihilism is defined in accordance with its power of will. There are three different types of nihilism:
- Negative Nihilism: A desire to diminish and exhaust, giving way to negative nihilism. Nietzsche diagnoses that Western culture’s values are false, negating life and leading to nothing. These values have no meaning, and negative nihilism leaves a culture without values.
- Active Nihilism: A violent destruction of values. If values do not matter, they are destroyed by the desire for power (not saying these are values). It is a continuation and a desire to say whether new values can create a superior life.
- Passive or Buddhist Nihilism: Nihilism can be converted into the hope of beatitude. This is the occasion for the superior man. Nietzsche believes in advancing towards negative nihilism to create a new way.
Beyond Good and Evil: A Critique
Critique of Philosophy
All the philosophers who have manipulated concepts for millennia are mummies; nothing real has left their hands. The major deceptions of metaphysics are grammatical or linguistic. All concepts come from the estimation of the senses, a great mistake in accepting the testimony of the senses, which are relative. Nietzsche is a perspectivist: there are no facts, only perceptions and perspectives.
Critique of Religion
All religion is born of fear of life. Christianity is the inversion of authentic Greek and Roman values. Christian life reflects the ideas of Plato. Christianity is Platonism for the people and is a form of vulgar metaphysics. Christianity holds onto base values like obedience, self-sacrifice, and humility. Nietzsche also critiques Christian discourse because it says sin is worthwhile. Religion has contaminated philosophy with these vulgar values. Observation: the vulgarity of the Christian religion must be overcome, but the great solution is to kill the obstacle.