The Use and Abuse of History [Paperback]

Friedrich Nietzsche (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1596054662 | ISBN-13: 978-1596054660

[A]s long as the past is principally used as a model for imitation, it is always in danger of being a little altered and touched up and brought nearer to fiction. Sometimes there is no possible distinction between a "monumental" past and a mythical romance... -from The Use and Abuse of History He's one of the most controversial thinkers of the 19th century: Nietzsche and his works have been by turns vilified, lauded, and subjected to numerous contradictory interpretations, and yet he remains a figure of profound important, and his works a necessary component of a well-rounded education. In this 1873 essay, Nietzsche discusses the inevitably subjective lenses through which we see, explore, examine, and lend meaning to the events and characters of the past. As we find ourselves plunged into times that feel of urgent and "historic" significance, Nietzsche's reflections and speculations are newly provocative, whether we agree with them or not. German psychologist and philosopher FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE (1844-1900) was appointed special professor of classical philology at the University of Basel at the precocious age of 24, but he found himself dissatisfied with academic life and created an alternative intellectual society among friends including composer Richard Wagner, historian Jakob Burckhardt, and theologian Franz Overbeck. Among his philosophical works are Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, Ecce Homo, and The Anti-Christ.

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He's one of the most controversial thinkers of the 19th century: Nietzsche and his works have been by turns vilified, lauded, and subjected to numerous contradictory interpretations, and yet he remains a figure of profound important, and his works a necessary component of a well-rounded education.

In this 1873 essay, Nietzsche discusses the inevitably subjective lenses through which we see, explore, examine, and lend meaning to the events and characters of the past. As we find ourselves plunged into times that feel of urgent and "historic" significance, Nietzsche's reflections and speculations are newly provocative, whether we agree with them or not.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Cosimo Classics (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596054662
• ISBN-13: 978-1596054660
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware! Ancient, poor translation, May 19, 2006

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pandajama - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Use and Abuse of History (Paperback)

I purchased this and regret it. The translation is from the early 20th century and this volume is from one of those discount publishers that use writing that has fallen out of copyright. They don't even disclose who the translator is -- but he or she did a poor job.

Much better is to purchase Hollingdale's translation (or probably any modern translation) of the Untimely Mediations. Use and Abuse of History is the second essay in that volume.

The work itself, of course, is incredible. This review is about the translation.