Exploring Nietzsche’s Philosophy and Its Cultural Impact
Historical-Cultural Context and Philosophical Insights
The life of Nietzsche covers the second half of the nineteenth century, a period that culminated in significant political and social changes. 1 – It is the century of revolutions, beginning with two key events: the French Revolution and the achievements of Napoleon. At the same time, another movement crosses the century: Nationalism. 2 – Liberalism is the ideology of the bourgeois class. The theme is freedom, but not for everyone. Hence, liberalism is both a subversive and conservative force. 3 – There are counter-restoration efforts. 4 – The democratic movement attempts to prolong and surpass liberalism. Nietzsche criticized the democracy taking root in Germany, which he believed prevented the development of strong and free minds. 5 – Nationalism and Imperialism: Germany tends toward expansionism, which Nietzsche criticized. 6 – In the last quarter of the century, the second industrial revolution consolidates Germany’s position as a leading economic power, which Nietzsche also critiqued. 7 – The great revolutionary theories of the Left, fueled by the rise of a disadvantaged proletariat, include Socialism, Anarchism, and Marxism.
Cultural Developments
Culturally, this century is marked by a remarkable diffusion of culture, compulsory education, and the dissemination of magazines and newspapers. The major topics that resonate with Idealism include:
- The impact of Kant’s philosophy
- A deep concern for heterodox religious character
- The interest in the classical world
- The concept of beauty
- History as a central theme of idealism
However, two fundamental trends emerge: 1 – Romanticism: a reaction against the Enlightenment that influences Nietzsche’s philosophy. It emphasizes individuality against rationality and opposes the mechanistic vision of nature with a living and organic perspective. It ranks tradition and history more highly than before. 2 – Positivism: Critiqued by Nietzsche, this philosophical and cultural power corresponds to realism. It aims to adhere strictly to facts and is modeled on the rationality of experimental science, based on Descartes and Galileo. Science becomes the sole guide for humanity and indefinite progress, defined as utilitarian and politically a bourgeois ideology. In literature, realism and naturalism are represented by significant writers such as Zola and Tolstoy. By the turn of the century, various currents began to emerge that reacted against the excesses of positivism, incorporating aspects such as life, spirit, and freedom. The next great philosopher, Marx, along with Nietzsche, constitutes two of the most revolutionary philosophies.
Contrasting Views: Nietzsche and Marx
However, Marx is part of the positivist current that Nietzsche critiques. Their ideas are opposed; Nietzsche champions individualism and irrationalism, while Marx defends the working classes and focuses on financial and material elements to explain history.
Implications of Nietzsche’s Philosophy
The impact of Nietzsche’s philosophy has been immense, inspiring various philosophical movements and artists. The most influenced flows include:
- 1 – Phenomenology: in its eagerness to negate positivism.
- 2 – Existentialism: in defining man beyond any universal human essence.
- 3 – Historicism: in the historic setting of all truth, compressing each fact within its historical context.
- 4 – Philosophy of language: Nietzsche initiated an attempt to analyze language.
- 5 – Frankfurt School: critical philosophy as the only possible solution for humanity.
- 6 – Hermeneutics: the hermeneutic method, already present in Nietzsche, tackles problems from multiple perspectives, focusing on asking rather than answering.
- 7 – Postmodernism: a concept spanning architecture, art, and general philosophy, characterized by distrust of major theories that explain the world, defending plurality and cultural relativism.
- 8 – Deconstructivism: a philosophy developed based on conflicting concepts such as sensible/intelligible and nature/culture, questioning the validity of these categories.
- 9 – Additionally, we must not forget the direct impact on vitalism.
Comparison with Platonism
In reality, Nietzsche’s philosophy serves as a scathing critique of Platonism. 1 – Ontological-Epistemic: Platonic dualism represents a radical excision of reality and knowledge, proposing two worlds and two ways of thinking. Nietzsche would not disagree with the notion that this world is imperfect, but he does not deny its existence; rather, he acknowledges it as the only real world. Plato suggests that this world is an imperfect copy of another, while Nietzsche claims this world is the only reality. Plato explains the need to leave ignorance to reach true knowledge, whereas Nietzsche does not believe in ideas and reason alone; for him, reason must complement instincts and the exteriorization of the Will to Power.
2 – Anthropological: Plato’s radical split between body and soul posits that the soul must distance itself from instincts and passions, viewing the body as a prison. In contrast, Nietzsche asserts that there is only this world, defined by instincts and the Will to Power.