Friedrich Nietzsche spoke about the role of classical philology and the study of Homer in particular. Nietzsche argued that the study of the classics, and in particular the study of Homer, was not simply an exercise in historical scholarship, but rather a way to cultivate a deeper understanding of human nature and culture. He believed that the...More
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, cultural critic, composer, poet, and philologist whose work has exerted a profound influence on modern intellectual history. He began his career as a classical philologist before turning to philosophy. He became the youngest person ever to hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in 1869 at the age of 24. Nietzsche resigned in 1879 due to health problems that plagued him most of his life; he completed much of his core writing in the following decade. In 1889, at age 44, he suffered a collapse and afterward a complete loss of his mental faculties. He lived his remaining years in the care of his mother until her death in 1897...More
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, cultural critic, composer, poet, and philologist whose work has exerted a profound influence on modern intellectual history. He began his career as a classical philologist before turning to philosophy. He became the youngest person ever to hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in 1869 at the age of 24. Nietzsche resigned in 1879 due to health problems that plagued him most of his life; he completed much of his core writing in the following decade. In 1889, at age 44, he suffered a collapse and afterward a complete loss of his mental faculties. He lived his remaining years in the care of his mother until her death in 1897 and then with his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche. Nietzsche died in 1900.
His body of work touched a wide range of topics, including art, philology, history, religion, tragedy, culture, and science. Nietzsche's thought enjoyed renewed popularity in the 1960s and his ideas have since had a profound impact on 20th and early-21st century thinkers across philosophy—especially in schools of continental philosophy such as existentialism, postmodernism and post-structuralism—as well as art, literature, psychology, politics, and popular culture. Nietzsche developed influential concepts such as the Übermensch and the doctrine of eternal return.
Book Summary
Friedrich Nietzsche spoke about the role of classical philology and the study of Homer in particular. Nietzsche argued that the study of the classics, and in particular the study of Homer, was not simply an exercise in historical scholarship, but rather a way to cultivate a deeper understanding of human nature and culture. He believed that the study of the classics could help us to better understand our own values and beliefs by providing a framework for understanding the cultural and historical context in which they arose. In particular, Nietzsche praised Homer for his ability to capture the essence of human experience in his epic poems. He saw Homer as a kind of prophet, whose poetry could help us to understand the fundamental truths of human existence. He believed that the study of Homer could help us to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of human life, and could ultimately help us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. At the same time, Nietzsche was critical of the traditional methods of classical philology, which he saw as overly focused on the minutiae of linguistic and historical detail. He believed that philologists should be more interested in the broader cultural and philosophical implications of the texts they studied, rather than simply cataloguing their linguistic and historical features.
Friedrich Nietzsche
