Early Life and Education
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844, in Röcken, a small village in the Prussian province of Saxony. He was born on the 49th birthday of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia and was named after him. Nietzsche's father, Carl Ludwig Nietzsche, was a Lutheran pastor and former teacher; his mother was Franziska Nietzsche (née Oehler).
After his father's death in 1849, the family moved to Naumburg, where Nietzsche grew up in a household comprising his mother, grandmother, two aunts, and his younger sister, Elisabeth. As a youth, Nietzsche was a gifted student, and his exceptional ability in the classical languages of Latin and Greek led to his appointment as a professor of classical philology at the University of Basel in 1869, at the age of 24.
Academic Career and Early Works
Nietzsche's first book, "The Birth of Tragedy" (1872), was a radical reinterpretation of Greek art and culture from a philosophical perspective. This work, along with his friendship with the composer Richard Wagner, marked the beginning of his career as a philosopher.
During his time at Basel, Nietzsche published several works, including "Human, All Too Human" (1878), "Daybreak" (1881), and "The Gay Science" (1882). These books marked a shift in his thinking, moving away from his early romanticism and developing his critical philosophy.
Major Philosophical Works
Nietzsche's most productive and influential philosophical period began with "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (1883-1885), a philosophical novel that introduced many of his most famous ideas, including the Übermensch, eternal recurrence, and the death of God.
Following "Zarathustra," Nietzsche produced a series of increasingly polemical books:
- "Beyond Good and Evil" (1886)
- "On the Genealogy of Morality" (1887)
- "Twilight of the Idols" (1888)
- "The Antichrist" (1888)
- "Ecce Homo" (1888, published posthumously in 1908)
These works solidified Nietzsche's reputation as one of the most radical and influential philosophers of the 19th century.
Later Life and Mental Breakdown
In January 1889, Nietzsche suffered a mental breakdown in Turin, Italy. The cause of his condition remains uncertain, but it effectively ended his productive life. He spent the last decade of his life in the care of his mother and then his sister Elisabeth.
During this period, Elisabeth became the curator and editor of Nietzsche's manuscripts. Her interpretations and edits, particularly in "The Will to Power," have been a source of controversy, as some scholars argue that she distorted her brother's ideas to align with her own nationalist and anti-Semitic views.
Legacy and Influence
Nietzsche died on August 25, 1900, but his influence on philosophy, literature, and culture has been profound and enduring. His ideas have been interpreted and misinterpreted by various political and cultural movements throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Key concepts that continue to resonate include:
- The Übermensch (Overman or Superman)
- Eternal recurrence
- Will to power
- Perspectivism
- The revaluation of all values
Nietzsche's work has influenced existentialism, postmodernism, and various schools of psychology. His critiques of traditional morality, religion, and philosophy continue to challenge readers and spark debate to this day.