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A review by caris96
The Will to Power by Friedrich Nietzsche
5.0
“Mankind does not advance; it does not even exist” (61).
Nietzsche has been referred to by many as an “anti-philosopher”, and it’s clear to see in his confident denouncements of entire traditions and “self-evident” truths in the history of philosophy.
I’ve chosen to review this work of Nietzsche’s first because, while “The Joyous Science” and “Human, All Too Human” are my favourites, “The Will to Power” covers a lot of similar content from these and also spans many of his other writings.
I almost deliberately avoid talking about Nietzsche because people from all kinds of philosophical traditions have polarizing and rather fervent opinions about various aspects of his thought. While he is one of my favourite philosophers, there is plenty to criticize; not the least of which are his anti-communism, sexism, and at times even the arrogance that shows in his writing (albeit Kierkegaard wins that title). And yet, his arguments against the state as “organized violence” are more elegant than his anarchist contemporaries; his criticisms of human nature lay groundwork for the liberation of women; and his deconstruction of Western knowledge showed a kind of skepticism that resurfaces throughout modern critical theories.
I can’t deny that my introduction to Nietzsche was the naïve and curious exploration of someone recovering from religious trauma and deconstructing Christian hegemonic approaches to knowledge. But even today, Nietzsche is the most fun and engaging philosopher I have ever read, regardless of the subject. His prose is poetic and vivid, his polemics are forceful, and I can’t help but see possible alternative visions of the world and of myself in his work.
There are cases when a buffet of ideas is perhaps a weakness, but I think in the case of Nietzsche, the ability to approach his ideas noncommittally and see what you come back with is a rare and valuable opportunity.
Nietzsche has been referred to by many as an “anti-philosopher”, and it’s clear to see in his confident denouncements of entire traditions and “self-evident” truths in the history of philosophy.
I’ve chosen to review this work of Nietzsche’s first because, while “The Joyous Science” and “Human, All Too Human” are my favourites, “The Will to Power” covers a lot of similar content from these and also spans many of his other writings.
I almost deliberately avoid talking about Nietzsche because people from all kinds of philosophical traditions have polarizing and rather fervent opinions about various aspects of his thought. While he is one of my favourite philosophers, there is plenty to criticize; not the least of which are his anti-communism, sexism, and at times even the arrogance that shows in his writing (albeit Kierkegaard wins that title). And yet, his arguments against the state as “organized violence” are more elegant than his anarchist contemporaries; his criticisms of human nature lay groundwork for the liberation of women; and his deconstruction of Western knowledge showed a kind of skepticism that resurfaces throughout modern critical theories.
I can’t deny that my introduction to Nietzsche was the naïve and curious exploration of someone recovering from religious trauma and deconstructing Christian hegemonic approaches to knowledge. But even today, Nietzsche is the most fun and engaging philosopher I have ever read, regardless of the subject. His prose is poetic and vivid, his polemics are forceful, and I can’t help but see possible alternative visions of the world and of myself in his work.
There are cases when a buffet of ideas is perhaps a weakness, but I think in the case of Nietzsche, the ability to approach his ideas noncommittally and see what you come back with is a rare and valuable opportunity.