Friedrich Nietzsche (pronounced ‘Neet-sha’) was born in Röcken, Prussia in 1844. His father, a Lutheran minister, died when he was only 5.


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Friedrich Nietzsche (pronounced ‘Neet-sha’) was born in Röcken, Prussia in 1844. His father, a Lutheran minister, died when he was only 5.

After graduating from boarding school, Nietzsche studied classical philology at university. He was considered so brilliant that at only 24 he was made a professor at the University of Basel.

After graduating from boarding school, Nietzsche studied classical philology at university. He was considered so brilliant that at only 24 he was made a professor at the University of Basel. 


But after this promising early start, illness (physical and mental) and a truly independent spirit saw Nietzsche fall outside the mainstream. He lived in a series of rented rooms around Europe so he could write in peace and take long walks.

But after this promising early start, illness (physical and mental) and a truly independent spirit saw Nietzsche fall outside the mainstream. He lived in a series of rented rooms around Europe so he could write in peace and take long walks.


Nietzsche’s dismissal of philosophy as an objective science allowed him to write in a brilliantly personal, and often mad, style. His insights today still seem very fresh, and his emotion-charged, non-technical prose could not be more different to today’s dry, overspecialized academic writings.

Nietzsche’s dismissal of philosophy as an objective science allowed him to write in a brilliantly personal, and often mad, style. His insights today still seem very fresh, and his emotion-charged, non-technical prose could not be more different to today’s

Nietzsche saw the history of philosophy as an expression of the ‘will to Truth’, yet this obsession with truth was simply an arbitrary prejudice. Why are philosophers not as much interested in untruth or uncertainty, he wondered?&nbsp;

Nietzsche saw the history of philosophy as an expression of the ‘will to Truth’, yet this obsession with truth was simply an arbitrary prejudice. Why are philosophers not as much interested in untruth or uncertainty, he wondered? 


“In spite of all the value which may belong to the true, the positive and the unselfish, it might be possible that a higher and more fundamental value for life should generally be assigned to pretense, to the will to delusion, to selfishness and cupidity.” Nietzsche

“In spite of all the value which may belong to the true, the positive and the unselfish, it might be possible that a higher and more fundamental value for life should generally be assigned to pretense, to the will to delusion, to selfishness and cupidity.

Perhaps good and evil are less distinct than we think, he suggested in Beyond Good and Evil. But in the interests of purity, we like to see them as separate.

Perhaps good and evil are less distinct than we think, he suggested in Beyond Good and Evil. But in the interests of purity, we like to see them as separate.


Nietzsche thought that psychologists were wrong in saying that people and animals are governed by self-preservation, or the survival instinct. Rather, the chief aim of animals is to discharge their strength.&nbsp;

Nietzsche thought that psychologists were wrong in saying that people and animals are governed by self-preservation, or the survival instinct. Rather, the chief aim of animals is to discharge their strength. 


This is Nietzsche’s famous Will to power. We want to keep living not for its own sake, but so that we can express our powers.&nbsp;

This is Nietzsche’s famous Will to power. We want to keep living not for its own sake, but so that we can express our powers. 


At the same time, he did not believe in free will. How does that square with the Will to power, and Nietzsche’s concept of the ubermensch (‘superman’), the sovereign actor who is free of all the usual moral conventions and ways of seeing?&nbsp;

At the same time, he did not believe in free will. How does that square with the Will to power, and Nietzsche’s concept of the ubermensch (‘superman’), the sovereign actor who is free of all the usual moral conventions and ways of seeing? 


Will to truth >> the will to power

Nietzsche believed that the idea of free will is a Christian nicety based on a belief in the sanctity of every soul. Humans are better seen as higher animals that grasp what they want from life.&nbsp;

Nietzsche believed that the idea of free will is a Christian nicety based on a belief in the sanctity of every soul. Humans are better seen as higher animals that grasp what they want from life. 


The nature of the ubermensch is not contemplation or rationalizing, but energetic grabbing, doing and creating. People think too much, when they should give free reign to their instinctive Will to create and dominate.&nbsp;

The nature of the ubermensch is not contemplation or rationalizing, but energetic grabbing, doing and creating. People think too much, when they should give free reign to their instinctive Will to create and dominate. 


The conventional view of the philosopher is that of a person who is wise, prudent and lives apart from normal life. But Nietzsche draws an alternative picture.

The conventional view of the philosopher is that of a person who is wise, prudent and lives apart from normal life. But Nietzsche draws an alternative picture.


“The genuine philosopher... lives ‘unphilosophically’ and ‘unwisely’, above all ‘imprudently’, and feels the obligation and burden of a hundred attempts and temptations of life – he risks himself constantly, he plays this bad game.” Nietzsche

“The genuine philosopher... lives ‘unphilosophically’ and ‘unwisely’, above all ‘imprudently’, and feels the obligation and burden of a hundred attempts and temptations of life – he risks himself constantly, he plays this bad game.” Nietzsche


Real philosophers should be “the bad conscience” of their time and culture. Their job is to apply a “vivisector’s knife to the breast of the very virtues of their age”.

Real philosophers should be “the bad conscience” of their time and culture. Their job is to apply a “vivisector’s knife to the breast of the very virtues of their age”. 


“Is greatness possible, nowadays?” Modern society, Nietzsche answers, is “a general war against everything rare, strange, and privileged, against the higher man, the higher soul, the higher duty, the higher responsibility, the creative plenipotence and lordliness...”

“Is greatness possible, nowadays?” Modern society, Nietzsche answers, is “a general war against everything rare, strange, and privileged, against the higher man, the higher soul, the higher duty, the higher responsibility, the creative plenipotence and lo

The modern person seeks a life free from fear or pain. This is a sad dereliction of their potential. Instead, we should be throwing ourselves into life at whatever risk, and without getting permission from anyone.&nbsp;

The modern person seeks a life free from fear or pain. This is a sad dereliction of their potential. Instead, we should be throwing ourselves into life at whatever risk, and without getting permission from anyone. 


Nietzsche called Christianity a ‘slave morality’ because it emphasized “the sacrifice of all freedom, all pride, all self-confidence of spirit”. It made the believer into a self-deriding shadow of what they could be. The fact is, good and evil are a creation of humankind.&nbsp;

Nietzsche called Christianity a ‘slave morality’ because it emphasized “the sacrifice of all freedom, all pride, all self-confidence of spirit”. It made the believer into a self-deriding shadow of what they could be. The fact is, good and evil are a creat

It’s natural to want to be more, have more, do more. Selfishness, including evasion, distrust and a love of dissembling and irony, are signs of health. It’s the people who are always after some pure and objective absolute (whether in religion or philosophy) that are the sick ones.&nbsp;

It’s natural to want to be more, have more, do more. Selfishness, including evasion, distrust and a love of dissembling and irony, are signs of health. It’s the people who are always after some pure and objective absolute (whether in religion or philosoph

The common reaction to Nietzsche’s ideas is shock. But his rejection of philosophy’s traditional project – the search for fundamental truth – has had a huge influence. His inescapable conclusion: creating an authentic life is better than living according to a set of imaginary moral ‘truths’.

The common reaction to Nietzsche’s ideas is shock. But his rejection of philosophy’s traditional project – the search for fundamental truth – has had a huge influence. His inescapable conclusion: creating an authentic life is better than living according 

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