Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

im still reading his books, but i dont understand a word!

Blinded by his own madness and by delusions de grandeur inspired by reading Homer. A fool.

For me the project of philosophy is as much about technique as understanding...which is why I'm not a fan. Sure, he's a major figure, and for that reason must be read if you are serious about the discipline...but I'd pick up Jaspers' Nietzsche: An Introduction to the Understanding of His Philosophical Activity as an insightful guide to the madness that is Nietzsche's method.

A brilliant writer, and a brilliant mind, so brilliant I think he often argues with himself because he couldn't find an intellectual equal. As one reviewer points out, he does contradict himself at times, so if you're looking for absolute consistency let me remind what the hobgoblin of tiny minds is. Dismissing him as a fascist or a first generation Nazi is taking simplicity to new lows.

Disturbing but essential.

Underrated philosopher and certainly a colorful personality. Beyond Good and Evil and The Anti-Christ along with Twilight of the Idols are decent philosophical writings that are thought-provoking. . .Nietzsche's writings are short bursts of paragraphs- some you will find brilliant and some you will disagree with. Having said that, one cannot turn a blind eye to his rampant sexism- but hey, philosophers are kinda fun, right?

How could anyone take Nietzsche seriously? How much clarity does a brain have when ravaged by syphilis? If one follows Nietzsche, one reaches the same destination.

one of the most brilliant minds to walk the Earth. stated the obvious yet people still follow myths.

First, Nietzsche went insane because of a colon infection, not because of some mental or philosophical defect. Second, anyone who equates or compares Nietzshe's philosophy with Nazism or Fascism has completely misread and misinterepted his work. Don't take my work for it; take his. Nietzsche did not see Napoleon, or by extention would not have seen Hitler, as a type of Ubermensch.

The most brilliant philosopher of all time. His immaculate mind was enhanced by his phenominal writing skills. Sigmund Freud declared no one who had ever lived understood the human mind as well as Nietzsche. I think he died so early because he figured out the meaning of life and went mad. (that or syphyllis?) Unfortunately his legacy is tainted because his sister's corruption of his work (caused by her marriage to a nazi-sympathizer/racist.) After Nietzsche died, his sister Elizabeth donated his philosphy to the nazi cause in exchange for great prestige. Because his work is so explosive and volatile it is easy to take out of context. Nietzsche's legacy will be improved in time, however its tie to nazism has done a great disservice to true lovers and appreciators of philosphy. Nietzsche is about human potential, and realizing that potential. Despite common critisizm, he was not a racist, or an anti-semite. His attack on religion is based on the biblical beginnings of religion and t... Read more

I find his conclusions repellent, but at the same time I can't help but respect his work. Radical, provacative, and inluential. Like him or not you're going to have to deal with him if you do philosophy.

Along with Plato, one of the few philosophical giants who could actually write. His aphorisms had the remarkable ability to be short, memorable, and remarkably profound. He should be hated by all fans of dogma, faith, or conformity, as he just shredded those concepts. Anyone calling him a nihlist or fascist completely missed the point.

The first National Socialist. Without him, fascism could never have come into existence. He was the ultimate subverter - of attenuated 19th century Christian beliefs, of capitalism, of egalitarianism and of bourgeois democracy. He was a man of the Right - the Far-Right - and his appeal to the Left is quite ludicrous. His Last Man - the tolerant, equality-loving, multi-cultural, liberal democrat - was for Nietzsche the end of civilization, the final defeat for mankind's creativity. Thus Nietzsche was, and remains, an icon of, and inspiration to, fascists everywhere.

He is philosophy gone amok, it is amazing that he is still taught in universitys but he is a good example of what not to think.

What can I say?!?! I've read Thus Spake Zarathustra. It's not light reading but it is impressive. Certainly the most inspiring take on existentialism I've read so far. The Sublime Ones is the best thing I think I've ever read.

A great, profound writer, one with whom I have been fighting all my adult life. Sometimes I find myself in passionate agreement with him: other times, --not. He DOES contradict himself. In The AntiChrist he writes a marvelous and glowing tribute to Buddhism (which he adores, as I do, for correctly placing the emphasis on transcending suffering, not sin); elsewhere in his work (Zarathustra, Ecce Homo, Twilight of the Idols) he considers the Buddhist virtues--compassion for the weak, for example--as the worst of human vices. Nietzsche once said that Emerson was his favorite writer, and you can see the influence--his emphasis on individual responsibility, for example. I think his worst defect is his attitude towards women (for a sample of this, read the section Of Women in Zarathustra). Reading Nietzsche is worth every bit the trouble, though: there is a LOT to chew on in this magnificent writer's work.

Very interesting stuff,very thought provoking, often said to be the philosophy behind the Nazis.

Nietzsche was a great philosopher with many great theories. I speak with the point of view however that his writings are as useful to understanding life and existence as a Joanna Trollop novel. Without his obvious insanity and his borderline nazi ideals he may have been a great force in philosophy. His fame is mainly due to the fact that most great philosophers died before the 19-century and they have to put someone under the heading of contemporary philosophers.

He is the most influence to me of all the great philoshers.One who speaks with clarity and knows of what he speaks.Everyone should read him.And become "a wheel rolling out of their own center". I do not see this dark character in his writting others have.I see some who understand the ills of what he writters and urges you took take the next step.And "walk the tightrope".I see in his writting what I have read in the Buddha and Krishnamurti,take responsiblilty for your own life.Do not be weighted down by the "Raft",find your own expression in being who who must become.

Brilliant writer. I could read his books over and over and learn so9mething new every time. A genius.

Most popular philosopher and corupter of society.

Existentialist, radical, hard-line, Social-democrat, Athiest, Anti-racist, had great psychological insight, individualistic realist, vitalist, pushes immoral self-determination of the superior man and had many grudges against women (women prevent men from achiving greatness). Twisted Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Christian scriptures to make it mean something to the contrary or secular. After he had a stroke (1889) his brother in-law (B. Forster) published Far-right and Anti-Semetic books under Nietzsche's name.

As a poet Nietzsche produced some of the most beautiful German ever written aside from Goethe but as a philogist he was tad too Neo-Pagan. He was a very weak man who worshipped strength like a narcotic (an attribute shared with many members of his scholarly class who will to power is only matched with their bitter pettiness.). I am not sure he was a committed pagan because he lamented the absence of vigor in German Christianity but he offered nothing substantive and died insane. He has a charm that appeals to little boys and weak men who are a little too filled with the glory of youth and their own importance.

He was creative, but his philosophies were individualistic and coldhearted. Any surprise that Hitler was influenced by him.

You know why Nietzsche died so young? It's because God was pissed off when he said "God is dead.".....

Insightful, I suppose. But his philosophy is thouroughly overrated, and really isn't all that important.

Turn of the century German atheist impressed by his own power and brilliance. Sound familiar somehow? This guy is probably still trying to explain all that as he currently turns into a crispy critter. I love the old bumper sticker that says, "God is Dead" - Nietzsche followed by "Nietzsche is Dead" - God.

Whoa – this guy lost his grip, huh? Here’s someone with a brilliant mind and an amazing gift for language, who dove so deep into metaphysical insights that he couldn’t come back up for air. I read someone (Alan Watts maybe?) describe people who take LSD as “drowning in a sea” in which trained Hindu/Buddhist monks swim – the idea being that LSD can provide a short-cut to insights or experiences that require spiritual preparation to handle properly. Without the right training, exposure to those insights can really mess with your mind. And to a degree I think that’s what happened to Nietzsche. I think the magnitude of his philosophical discoveries, unfiltered by the proper psychological preparation, caused an ego inflation (to use one of Carl Jung’s terms) that engulfed him. Which in some ways turned out to be a great thing for his work, because it’s mesmerizing to watch a mind like that flame out. Have you read “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”? It’s wild stuff.