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BOOK EXCERPT:
"Twilight of the Idols: Or, How to Philosophize with a Hammer" (Original German: Götzen-Dämmerung oder Wie man mit dem Hammer philosophiert) is a concise and accessible summary of Nietzsche's critique of traditional philosophy and morality. The title metaphorically suggests the dismantling of the idols, or false truths, that have dominated Western thought. Here Nietzsche outlines the core themes of his late work in ten sections, preceded by a brief introduction. He uses the metaphor of "twilight" to signify the decline of what was previously accepted as truth, which he refers to as "idols. He juxtaposes this with the image of a hammer, suggesting a violent destruction of old beliefs, complemented by the tuning fork, symbolizing a diagnostic approach that reveals the "hollow sounds" of questioned idols. Nietzsche delves into the decay of metaphysics, morality, and religion, criticizing the dualism that has dominated Western culture by dividing the world into true and apparent realms. He focuses on Socrates as an emblem of decline, characterizing him as a pathological figure whose dialectical method marked a detrimental shift in Greek tastes, fostering the rise of the populace at the expense of nobler values. Twilight of the Idols is notable for its concise articulation of many of his central themes, such as the critique of metaphysics, the denunciation of Christian morality, and the celebration of life-affirming values. The text is divided into several sections, each addressing different aspects of contemporary culture and philosophy. This work underscores his rejection of absolute truths and his advocacy of perspectivism; the idea that knowledge is always from a particular perspective and influenced by the individual's will to power, even though this is, ironically, an extremely dogmatic philosophical perspective which makes a claim of absolute truth. The work was published by C. G. Naumann in Leipzig in 1889. This new 2024 translation of the original 1889 German manuscript includes a new afterword by the translator, a timeline of Nietzsche's life and works, an index with descriptions of his key concepts, and summaries of his complete works. This translation is designed to allow the armchair philosopher to engage deeply with Nietzsche's works without having to be a full-time Academic. The language is modern and clean, with simplified sentence structures and diction to make Nietzsche's complex language and arguments as accessible as possible. This Reader's Edition also contains extra material that amplifies the manuscript with autobiographical, historical and linguistic context. This provides the reader a holistic view of this very enigmatic philosopher as both an introduction and an exploration of Nietzsche's works; from his general understanding of his philosophic project to an exploration of the depths of his metaphysics and unique contributions. This edition contains: • An Afterword by the Translator on the history, impact and intellectual legacy of Nietzsche • Translation notes on the original German, Latin and Greek manuscript • An index of Philosophical concepts used by Nietzsche with a focus on Existentialism and Phenomenology • A chronological list of Nietzsche's entire body of works • A detailed timeline of Nietzsche's life and works
Product Details :
Genre |
: Philosophy |
Author |
: Friedrich Nietzsche |
Publisher |
: Livraria Press |
Release |
: |
File |
: 159 Pages |
ISBN-13 |
: 9783689382513 |