Nietzschean Thought: Fundamental Philosophical Principles
Nietzsche’s Concept of Becoming and the Apparent World
In his texts, Nietzsche contrasts the notion of ‘becoming’ with the Platonic concept of ‘being.’ Nietzsche argued that Plato, like most ‘mummies,’ sought to deny the constantly changing reality of the world. This denial, he believed, created the false dichotomy between the ‘apparent world’ and the ‘true world.’ Nietzsche considered the contradistinction between the real and apparent world a sign of moral decadence. He asserted that the only way out of this is to refuse to acknowledge a ‘true world.’ When the ‘true world’ is removed, the ‘apparent world’ loses its negative connotation and gains its own inherent meaning.
Senses (Dionysian) vs. Reason (Apollonian)
Nietzsche often contrasted the concept of ‘senses’ with ‘reason.’ According to him, the concept of reason was introduced by Socrates into Western philosophy, aiming to eliminate the contradiction between the Apollonian and Dionysian elements. From Plato onward, rationality has largely prevailed in the history of Western philosophy and culture. However, Nietzsche contended that significant scientific discoveries have been made precisely thanks to our senses.
Supreme Concepts and Values
Supreme concepts and values refer to the abstract categories developed by Western idealism to comprehend the world through ideas. Nietzsche cited examples of these categories, which he considered ’empty’ and overly general, such as ‘the good,’ ‘the unconditioned,’ ‘the true,’ and ‘the perfect.’ For Nietzsche, these concepts lacked concrete reference to reality.
Nietzsche’s Concept of God and Atheism
In this context, ‘God’ signifies the most supreme of rational concepts, and consequently, the most ’empty,’ as it has no direct referent in reality. It is impossible to discuss this without addressing Nietzsche’s atheism. Given that God has ceased to influence humanity, Nietzsche declared, ‘God is dead.’ This famous phrase expresses Nietzsche’s conviction that humanity has outgrown a false religion that must now be actively challenged and overcome.
Life (The Dionysian Principle)
According to Nietzsche, ‘life’ is the fundamental source from which moral values must emerge to govern human existence. It constitutes the primary criterion of value in Nietzschean philosophy. The fundamental affirmation of life stands in opposition to the barren and empty reason prevalent in much of ancient Western philosophy. Except for his appraisal of pre-Socratic Greek culture, Nietzsche consistently highlighted an opposition between vitality and rationality.
Decadence and the Decline of Life
‘Decadence’ is a term Nietzsche frequently used to describe the process of degeneration in Western culture. In his view, both Socratic morality and Platonic idealism, by substituting life-affirming values with false ones, led to a significant decline in society. The Übermensch (Superman) is envisioned as the one who will overcome this situation through a revaluation of values, recovering the Dionysian sense of life.
The Tragic Artist and the Dionysian
Nietzsche, with his unique perspective, contrasted the Dionysian spirit with the tragic artist, bringing us back to the Apollonian and Dionysian duality embodied in Greek tragedy. According to Nietzsche, Greek tragedy staged the struggle between vitality and rationality. In his opinion, while philosophers have often attempted to halt the ever-changing flow of existence, the artist is the individual who affirms life as it is, embracing its inherent dynamism.