Understanding Nietzsche: Ideas and Influence
Nietzsche’s Core Concepts
This section covers fundamental concepts in Nietzsche’s philosophy.
Nihilism
Nihilism, a concept derived from the Latin nihil meaning “nothing,” describes the situation that arises when the values of traditional Western culture (moral, religious, philosophical, etc.) are deleted or canceled. The traditional values have been canceled, leading to nihilism. However, humanity cannot exist in this situation without values, so the philosopher’s task is to construct new ones. These new values are an artistic construction; they are not ‘true’ in a traditional sense.
The Superman (Übermensch)
The second expression is the Superman (Übermensch), which represents that which has broken all the values of Western culture and is embarking on a new path, cut off from old values. The Superman is Nietzsche’s reality because he is the one who embodies the critique [of old values]. The Superman is the artist, the tragic poet, a follower of Dionysus.
Nietzsche’s View of Reality
Nietzsche believes that reality, or “the real,” is only what is related to the senses. That is, everything that exists comes from sensory experience. Therefore, reality is what changes, what becomes, what is born and dies, what is imperfect.
Philosophers’ Conception of Reality
In contrast, philosophers refer to concepts and theories invented by those who are afraid of life. Philosophers have invented “another world,” which they consider real – an immutable, perfect, permanent world. Philosophers use this “other world” as their standard.
Nietzsche’s Critique of Philosophers
Philosophers, according to Nietzsche, are afraid of life and becoming. Because of this fear, they invent concepts and believe these concepts represent the only reality. Nietzsche has a very negative view of such philosophers, calling them “sepulchre-diggers,” “vampires,” “mummies,” etc., all stemming from their fear of life.
Rejecting the Deception of the Senses
This refers to the attitude that rejects the senses. Philosophers deny the senses, using the argument that the senses deceive us and do not lead to true knowledge. There is also another element associated with the senses: the instinctive, passionate, sexual. Philosophers often dismiss this as well, favoring “another world” which they consider the real world (e.g., Plato’s world of Ideas).
Phenomenalism and Knowledge (Kant)
Phenomenalism is a result of a particular way of thinking about knowledge, notably in Kant’s philosophy. According to Kant, empirical knowledge begins and is limited by experience. Our sensibility receives impressions of external things, but these are organized according to the intuitions of space and time, which structure our experience. The result is phenomena. By applying understanding, we produce intellectual knowledge. The concept of the phenomenon implies that our knowledge cannot go beyond experience, and “things-in-themselves” are not knowable. Thus, we only know phenomena.
Nietzsche on Language and Truth
The problem of language is central to Nietzsche’s work, particularly in On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense. His thesis is that while humans use language to talk about things, every word is originally a metaphor – sounds that have no inherent connection to the things themselves. When a set of metaphors becomes established, society imposes it as the only and “true” system for referring to things. Since words are metaphorical by nature, language, in this sense, becomes a collective lie of society.
Nietzsche’s Influence
Nietzsche had a significant influence on 20th-century art movements such as:
- Cubism
- Expressionism
- Dadaism
- etc.
These movements represented a break with previous aesthetics, each developing its unique style. Some emphasized color, others movement. Thus, Nietzsche was very important in the development of the avant-garde.
With respect to philosophy, Nietzsche remains one of the most influential thinkers. There is now a branch of philosophy called the philosophy of language, which is responsible for language analysis. Two movements closely related to Nietzsche are Hermeneutics and Deconstruction.
- Hermenutics: Meaning “understanding,” this philosophical current suggests that the role of philosophy is the interpretation of texts.
- Deconstruction: A French current. The work of deconstruction involves disassembling previous theories to find the underlying assumptions or “deceit” upon which our social system is built.