Nietzsche: The Great Philosophers (The Great Philosophers Series) [Paperback]

Ronald Hayman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999 | ISBN-10: 0415923808 | ISBN-13: 978-0415923804 | Edition: 1

Philosophy is one of the most intimidating and difficult of disciplines, as any of its students can attest. This book is an important entry in a distinctive new series from Routledge: The Great Philosophers. Breaking down obstacles to understanding the ideas of history's greatest thinkers, these brief, accessible, and affordable volumes offer essential introductions to the great philosophers of the Western tradition from Plato to Wittgenstein.
In just 64 pages, each author, a specialist on his subject, places the philosopher and his ideas into historical perspective. Each volume explains, in simple terms, the basic concepts, enriching the narrative through the effective use of biographical detail. And instead of attempting to explain the philosopher's entire intellectual history, which can be daunting, this series takes one central theme in each philosopher's work, using it to unfold the philosopher's thoughts.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Once in a while, a publication comes along that on first sight seems oddly out of place but on second viewing is admirably suited to its purpose. This little series of biographical summaries of the thoughts of 24 Western philosophers from Democritus to Derrida is admirable not only for its reasonable price but even more for the intelligence and clarity of the writing. Each volume has been prepared by an expert in the subject, and the result is a series of well-drawn and exceptionally useful pocket-size (4.5 x 7 inches) sketches of major figures in the history of Western thought. The level is such that no special background in philosophy is required to understand the concepts discussed. Each volume also contains a short bibliography, some of which refer to electronic journals or web sites. Most of the individuals chosen for the series come as no surprise, e.g., Descartes, Hegel, Kant, Nietzsche, Locke, Hume, Plato, and Socrates. But there are a few unexpected choices, like Alan Turing and Karl PopperAalthough on further consideration, they make more sense. Turing's influence on mathematics and on the development of computers has long been recognized, but his 1936 paper "On Compatible Numbers," which appeared in the Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society in 1936-37, influenced studies in the philosophy of mind. Popper's development of the concept of "historicism" in such works as The Open Society and Its Enemies and The Poverty of Historicism significantly influenced 20th-century political thought. Ultimately, this set should be in every academic and public library as well as many school libraries.ATerry C. Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415923808
• ISBN-13: 978-0415923804
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,223,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars A heady stroll through Nietzsche..., September 5, 2007

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Nietzsche: The Great Philosophers (The Great Philosophers Series) (Paperback)

This small essay takes a stroll through Nietzsche's life and thought. Using literary style as a sort of glue for the sporadic discussion, the book examines how "Nietzsche's voices" helped shape his thinking. An ominous and rhythmically pounding passage from "The Gay Science," where a madman announces the "death of God," appropriately opens the book, preceded by the statement: "Unless you believe in God, you cannot believe that God is Dead: an entity which never existed cannot die."

Not surprisingly, the text soon conjures up the voice of Zarathustra, Nietzsche's most prolonged literary device. Long sweeping passages from this famous, and potentially misleading, work pervade the entire book. First off, Zarathustra is scrutinized as a parody or self-referential voice for Nietzsche's deep religious upbringing. His father was a Lutheran pastor. At this point the book goes in several directions but it remains anchored in the question and utility of literary voice. These disparate directions include: Nietzsche's physical ailments, his aphoristic style, the comparison to Oscar Wilde's prose, Wagner as hysteric, the absence of God, the Dionysian, self-division, the illusion of truth, his rejection of Christian morality, his abortive run-in with Lou Salomé, philosophy as biography, Christian morality as "slave morality," the ascetic will, his attacks on language and logic ("Logic is an attempt to comprehend actuality by means of a scheme of being we have ourselves proposed"), his dismissal of the law of contradiction, the late works, and his eventual descent into madness.

The book argues that Nietzsche's fiddlings with voice provided him a playground and a tool for expressing unconventional ideas as well as doubt about the shaky foundations of language. Regardless of his unique beautiful prose rife with alternating tones and mood, the book claims that "Nietzsche failed to break the habit sanctioned by over two thousand years of philosophizing - the habit of worshipping the truth." Was Nietzsche then also writing a "confession" and his own "involuntary unconscious memoir?"

As the discussion segues towards that most famous of topics, Nietzsche's madness, the book seems to blame his highly unconventional thought for the onset of dire megalomania followed by incoherence. Venereal disease as a prognosis comes up only very late in the book. But the author then argues, "it is improbable that the delusions of grandeur or the breakdown had anything to do with syphilis." Does this imply that Nietzsche's first phase of "madness" was brought on by mere thinking and isolation? Such claims run the risk of romanticizing Nietzsche's ailments and philosophy, though no one really knows what caused this famous malady.

Lastly, the book questions Nietzsche's very questioning of the fundamentals of our existence, such as language, truth, and the self. The final page insinuates that Nietzsche may have gone too far, as alternates or answers to these challenges have not appeared over a century later. It all ends there, leaving the reader to ponder the implications of digging gopher holes beneath our everyday assumptions.

Though this sliver-sized book packs a mere 58 pages, it takes on a multitude of topics. The argument also meanders in and out of digressions, long quotes, biography, and exegesis. As such, beginners may find the road a rough and turbulent one, though perseverance will pay off. As a snapshot of one element of Nietzsche's philosophy, the book succeeds in combining many diverse and interesting topics into a coherent whole. Along the way it also peels back a small layer of Nietzsche's literary side. He definitely used voice to the utmost.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD BOOK!, July 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nietzsche: The Great Philosophers (The Great Philosophers Series) (Paperback)

If you don't know much about Nietzsche, then you should read this little book. I'm still reading it and I'm enjoying it very much!