Friedrich Nietzsche

• 1. The Boy From Röcken

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  On the 15th of October 1844, a boy named Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born in the small town of Röcken. He grew up near Leipzig within the Prussian Province of Saxony. His father worked as a Lutheran pastor and died when Friedrich was only four years old. The family moved to Naumburg shortly after his death. They lived with his maternal grandmother and two unmarried sisters. A year later, his younger brother Ludwig Joseph also passed away at age two. This left young Friedrich without parents or brothers. He attended a boys' school before entering the Gymnasium in Naumburg in 1854. His academic records show he excelled in Christian theology but received mixed grades in other subjects. In March 1864, his end-of-semester exams revealed a lackluster score in Hebrew and Mathematics. Despite these results, he earned a scholarship to study at Schulpforta due to his father's service to the state. There he studied Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and French. He led a music and literature club called Germania during summer breaks. At age 20, he wrote to his sister Elisabeth about losing his faith. He stated that if one wishes peace of soul, they should believe. If one seeks truth, they must inquire.

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• 2. The Professor Who Resigned

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  In 1869, at just 24 years old, Nietzsche became Professor of Classical Philology at the University of Basel. He held no doctorate or teaching certificate when appointed. An honorary doctorate from Leipzig University followed shortly after. Before moving to Switzerland, he renounced his Prussian citizenship. For the rest of his life, he remained officially stateless. During the Franco-Prussian War between 1870 and 1871, he served as a medical orderly. He witnessed traumatic battle effects and contracted diphtheria and dysentery. His health deteriorated rapidly throughout his tenure. He suffered from shortsightedness leaving him nearly blind, migraine headaches, and violent indigestion. A riding accident in March 1868 had torn two muscles in his left side. These conditions worsened over time until regular work became impossible. In 1879, after significant decline, he resigned from Basel and received a pension. His inaugural lecture was titled Homer and Classical Philology. He met Franz Overbeck who remained a lifelong friend. Afrikan Spir and Jacob Burckhardt began influencing his thinking significantly. Richard Wagner and Cosima Wagner invited him into their intimate circle frequently.

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• 3. The Solitary Traveler

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  After resigning from Basel, Nietzsche lived as an independent author traveling through Europe. He spent many summers in Sils Maria near St. Moritz in Switzerland. Winters were often passed in Italian cities like Genoa, Rapallo, and Turin. He also visited Nice in southern France seeking climates that might alleviate his condition. His failing eyesight prompted him to explore typewriters including the Hansen Writing Ball. Peter Gast eventually became his private secretary transcribing nearly all of Nietzsche's work. Between 1878 and 1888, he published one book or major section each year. In 1882, he met Lou Andreas-Salomé through Malwida von Meysenbug and Paul Rée. Salomé proposed living together as brother and sister along with another man to establish an academic commune. They traveled through Italy planning where to set up this Winterplan commune. No suitable location was found. On the 13th of May in Lucerne, Nietzsche earnestly proposed marriage to her again which she rejected. After discovering the relationship, his sister Elisabeth became determined to get him away from what she called an immoral woman. Salomé and Rée left Nietzsche in October 1882 without plans to meet again. He fled to Rapallo writing the first part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra in only ten days. By 1885, he printed only 40 copies of the fourth part distributing them among close friends.

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• 4. The Death Of God

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  Nietzsche predicted scientific developments would metaphorically kill the Abrahamic God who had served as the basis for meaning in Europe for over a thousand years. This statement appears notably in The Gay Science. Christian moral doctrine originally countered nihilism by providing traditional beliefs about good and evil. It offered objective knowledge frameworks people could cling to. Without such foundations humanity faces despair known as passive nihilism. Arthur Schopenhauer advocated separating oneself from will and desires reducing suffering. Nietzsche characterized this ascetic attitude as a will to nothingness. Life turns away from itself when no value exists in the world. He believed culture can thrive only after overcoming nihilism entirely. Eternal return posits that the universe has been recurring infinitely across time or space. It involves no supernatural reincarnation but physical repetition of beings in identical bodies. First proposed in Section 341 of The Gay Science, it represents potentially horrifying burden. To comprehend eternal recurrence requires amor fati love of fate. Perspectivism claims universal perspectives on things are impossible since knowledge remains contingent relative to fluid interests. A table of values hangs above every great person according to Thus Spoke Zarathustra. What makes people great is not belief content but the act of valuing itself.

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• 5. The Slave Revolt

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  A fundamental shift occurred during human history moving from thinking in terms of good and bad toward good and evil. Initial morality stemmed from warrior aristocracies ruling ancient civilizations. Aristocratic values coincided with relationships to lower castes like slaves. Master morality defined being happy having wealth strength health power etc. Being bad meant resembling poor weak sick pathetic objects of pity rather than hatred. Slave morality developed as reaction against master morality emerging from ressentiment of slaves. Value arises contrasting good associated with otherworldliness charity piety restraint meekness submission while evil embodies worldly cruel selfish wealthy aggressive traits. Nietzsche saw slave morality as pessimistic fearful improving self-perception of slaves. He linked it to Jewish and Christian traditions born out of resentment. Modern Europe exists hypocritically due to tension between contradictory master and slave moralities determining most European values. Exceptional people should follow their own inner law instead of shame before supposed morality-for-all. His favorite motto taken from Pindar reads Become what you are. In Beyond Good and Evil he waged philosophical war against Christian slave morality seeking victory for new master morality called philosophy of the future. He condemned institutionalized Christianity emphasizing pity assuming inherent illness in society. Though attacking Judaism principles, he was not antisemitic explicitly condemning antisemitism in On The Genealogy Of Morality.

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• 6. The Broken Friendships

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  Nietzsche never married proposing three times to Lou Salomé each time rejected. One theory blames Salomé's view on sexuality prohibiting intercourse viewing marriage violation indicating repression neurosis. Deussen cited Cologne brothel episode February 1865 instrumental understanding philosopher way thinking mostly about women. He clumsily escaped seeing half dozen apparitions dressed sequins veils. Some maintain Nietzsche contracted syphilis male brothel Genoa though evidence weak. Köhler suggests romantic relationship friendship with Paul Rée widely known Vienna Psychoanalytic Society claiming man never touched woman. Allan Megill argues evidence very weak projecting twentieth century understandings nineteenth century notions friendship. Continuous sickness headaches hindered engagement much with women yet examples express affection including Wagner wife Cosima. On the 19th of December 1876 hoping gain confidant sent trusting letter birthday. Elisabeth married antisemite Bernhard Förster traveling Paraguay founding Nueva Germania Germanic colony. Through correspondence relationship continued cycles conflict reconciliation meeting again only after collapse. In January 1889 two policemen approached causing public disturbance Turin streets. What happened remains unknown but tale states witnessing flogging horse ran protecting collapsed ground. Following days sent short writings Delusion notes friends signed Dionysus crucified one commanding emperor shot pope jailed creating world shooting dead all antisemites.

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• 7. The Sister And The Mask

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  After breakdown, Elisabeth returned from Nueva Germania following husband suicide studying works piece by piece taking control publication. Overbeck dismissed Gast finally cooperated. Franziska removed Nietzsche clinic May 1890 bringing home Naumburg. She cared him allowing visitors including Rudolf Steiner who wrote Friedrich Nietzsche Fighter Against His Time first books praising him. Steiner abandoned attempt months declaring impossible teaching philosophy. Elisabeth compiled Will To Power unpublished notebooks publishing posthumously 1901. Scholarly consensus says book does not reflect intent conflation early outlines liberties material taken. Mazzino Montinari editor Nachlass called forgery. Yet endeavor rescue reputation discrediting Will To Power leads scepticism value late notes whole Nachlass distinct. Elisabeth edited manuscripts fitting German ultranationalist ideology contradicting stated opinions explicitly opposed antisemitism nationalism. Published editions associated work fascism Nazism Twentieth century scholars Walter Kaufmann R.J. Hollingdale Georges Bataille defended against interpretation corrected editions soon available. Works renewed popularity 1960s ideas widespread impact 20th 21st century thinkers across philosophy especially continental schools existentialism postmodernism post-structuralism art literature music poetry politics popular culture.

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