Friedrich Nietzsche

[deathbecomesme]

Who here reads his books and philospohy?

[HumanePain]

I have read a little. I like his evolution from a man who hides from pain, to climbing the hill of pain (in life) because it is worth the view at the top and the skill gained.

Interesting in that he gained that change in perspective after spending some time relaxing by the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline in Campania, Italy. The beach does wonders for one's stress.

[deathbecomesme]

Originally Posted by HumanePain

I have read a little. I like his evolution from a man who hides from pain, to climbing the hill of pain (in life) because it is worth the view at the top and the skill gained.

Interesting in that he gained that change in perspective after spending some time relaxing by the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline in Campania, Italy. The beach does wonders for one's stress.

I have read most of this works, and tend to argee with him on alot of things.

Yep the beach does wonders for the stress.

[Mir]

If you could read one book by him, which one would it be? Is there anything that encompasses all of his work/ideas?

[deathbecomesme]

Beyond Good & Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future

Thats the only book that i have read all the way though, the others i just skim though.

[Circle V]

I've read, um...

Daybreak (also known as The Dawn, I believe)
The Antichrist
Twilight of the Idols (or, How One Philosophizes with a Hammer)

...as well as much of...

Beyond Good and Evil
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Nietzsche Contra Wagner

...and some of...

Homer's Contest
Ecce Homo
Human, All Too Human
On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense
Mixed Opinions and Maxims
The Wanderer and His Shadow
The Gay Science
Toward a Genealogy of Morals
The Wagner Case

I have two "Best of" (portable, that is) Nietzsche books and have read both almost entirely, which accounts for all of the partial reads.

I'd recommend "A Nietzsche Reader" published by Penguin Classics for anyone looking for examples of his mature philosophy. "Twilight of the Idols" and "Beyond Good and Evil" are excellent. "Zarathustra" is a bit pretentious and bores me with it's pseudo-prophetic style. "The Antichrist" is quite funny, and no doubt led to the idea of Nietzsche as a rabid extremist.

In case anyone was wondering, I love Nietzsche. Reading his books has changed my entire outlook on life-- perhaps not the way he intended, but it can't be undone. It's a bit sad that I can't look at conventional ideals or religion in the same way without bad conscience, but Nietzsche's books have given me more "Holy crap, why didn't I think of that?!" moments than anything else.

[Frankenscott]

I've read "Beyond Good and Evil"... I've found some it very useful day to day

[Circle V]

Please introduce yourself in the correct section, Frankenscott.

[GirlsNotMe]

Nietzsche has some solid material, though I don't agree with him on some of it.

Unfortunately, Nietzsche suffers from the fact that there are a lot of pessimistic high schoolers than read Nietzsche and think they are hot shit philosophers because they can regurgitate some of his work into a conversation and believe they come off as intelligent. I swear, I've heard Nietzsche incorrectly referenced so many times in a philosophical debate it boils my blood.

He's good, but not great. Sartre buries him.

[Circle V]

Originally Posted by GirlsNotMe

Unfortunately, Nietzsche suffers from the fact that there are a lot of pessimistic high schoolers than read Nietzsche and think they are hot shit philosophers because they can regurgitate some of his work into a conversation and believe they come off as intelligent. I swear, I've heard Nietzsche incorrectly referenced so many times in a philosophical debate it boils my blood.

He's good, but not great. Sartre buries him.

That bothers me as well, partly because Nietzsche advocates the celebration of life, not pessimism. Of course, I could be one of the pseudo-philosophers you speak of, though I'm no pessimist.

I especially enjoy Nietzsche because, unlike many philosophers, he was an excellent writer.

If I wished to study Sartre, where should I start?

[GirlsNotMe]

Sartre! Yay.

I highly recommend "Freedom and Responsibility" to begin with. It's complex enough to wrap your mind around but simple enough to not get on your nerves. It's just straight up good reading.

Go for it and tell me what you think.

Also, if you're a fan of drama and the theatre, read "No Exit." Sartre wrote that, and the famous line "Hell is other people!" comes from it.

[Circle V]

Several of Nietzsche's texts are available free here.