Confession: I've never read Nietzsche (hangs head)

[momophile]

I'm afraid my head would explode.

Has anyone here ever read Nietzsche and lived to tell about it?

[Haole Girl]

1. I have..

It's difficult... but I enjoyed what I read. It was many years ago, though. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to comprehend much at all today! :hi:

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. Nah, it's unreadable

Dark and worse as he got crazy.

[Ptah]

3. .

.

[Ptah]

4. I can't even pronounce Nietzsche

[MysticalChicken]

10. According to Little Miss Sunshine...

which I've seen seven times, Steve Carrell's character pronounces it "NEET-tcha." So that's how I pronounce it. I've also heard "NEET-tchee."

I've never read him, either, but I might check out Thus Spake Zarathustra from the library. That's the book Dwayne was reading in the movie (and according to one of the the commentaries, it was, I think, the screenwriter's own personal copy).

[otherlander]

11. "tzsch"- There is absolutley NO reason

for anyone to have that many goddamn consonants next to each other in their name. I mean, honestly, FIVE? He could have done just as well with a more reasonable three. Like this: Nietche- See? But no, he had to go with five. :eyes:
:P

[MysticalChicken]

13. lol

(What, you think he chose his last name? :P)



(Dwayne comes into his room, where Frank is staying, and motions to his mouth to indicate dinner is ready.)

Frank: What?... Dinner?

(Dwayne nods)

Frank: What, you don't... talk... anymore?

(Dwayne gestures toward a large charcoal drawing on his bedroom wall)

Frank: Is that Nietzsche?

(Dwayne nods)

Frank: You don't talk because of Frederich Nietzsche?

(Dwayne nods, and leaves.)

Frank: Far out.

[amitten]

28. One of the best scenes in any movie ever. n/t

[LostInAnomie]

16. Ubermenschs can put as many consonants in a row as they choose.

They are beyond your concepts of proper spelling. They have overcome it and created their own path.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

5. Even though Nietzsche sounds a bit crazy

I really agree with his philosophies. Even though the Nazis claimed he would have supported their cause, Nietzsche never would have supported them because he hated mass following (like he hated the church), instead supporting individual identity. His sister, a Nazi supporter, bastardised his work after he died.

It's been a while since I've read Nietzsche, but so far he's one of my favourite philosophers.

[bridgit]

6. Yes, it's a book said to be good for you like broccoli; but I'd rather *watch* Laurie Anderson...

Laurie Anderson - Mach 20

Laurie Anderson - O Superman

Laurie Anderson - "National Anthem"

[Orsino]

7. What kind of libertarian are you, anyway?

I'll bet you haven't decided on which martial art to claim to have mastered, either. :evilgrin:

[BlueIris]

8. Yeah. But it messed me up for a while. nt

[UTUSN]

9. Just read Walter KAUFMANN's books *about* N. & pretend you did!!1

And drop, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," in all conversations.

[otherlander]

12. Except that sometimes it just makes you almost dead.

[Swede]

14. THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA

http://philosophy.eserver.org/nietzsche-zarathustra.txt

[LostInAnomie]

15. I've read almost all his stuff, except "Will to Power".

It's actually not difficult reading. He writes in short, deep, and entertaining aphorisms that you can take for different levels of meaning. Despite the dark labels that people give him, he actually has a very optimistic, life affirming philosophy that sees great hope in the future.

Like most philosophers, it is best to read Nietzsche after you have a general idea of what he is going to say. Find a good intro to Nietzsche book, breeze through it, then, IMHO, start with "Human All to Human" which has one of the most inspiring intros I've ever read. A lot of people would tell you to start with "Thus Spake Zarathustra" but I think it should come at least third in your reading after "Human All to Human" and "Beyond Good and Evil".

Just remember, no matter how many books of his you read and how much you agree with his philosophy, no informed person can ever claim to be a Nietzschean.

[LynzM]

18. LIA, I am bookmarking this for reference

I've never read any Nietzsche, but I'm interested to. I think I'll give a try to your reading list.

Sounds like the kind of deep reading that may be best appreciated with help :smoke:

eta: Actually, I just found full-text versions in both English and German for free, online, so I can read it dual-language :) Sahweet. I'm starting with "Human, all too human."

[lildreamer316]

20. Linky?

Sorry, I'm lazy. Thanks...

[LynzM]

23. No prob...

I'm curious enough to be not-lazy. So far, a fascinating mental exercize...

http://www.davemckay.co.uk/philosophy/nietzsche/nietzsche.php?name=nietzsche.1878.humanalltoohuman.zimmern.00

http://www.friedrichnietzsche.de/index.php?REM_sessid=

The German has an intro that the English does not, and I've no idea if this is a good English translation in general, but it helps me enough to allow me to read the German (mostly in terms of Vocab and stuff).

Have fun! :hi:

[lildreamer316]

34. Thanks.

This looks to be fun, and challenging.

[LostInAnomie]

25. If possible always try to find a Kaufmann translation.

Other English translations don't demonstrate the Nietzsche's wit and creative use of language. Nietzsche's love of language and analysis of it is fundamental to his philosophy. A translator that doesn't appreciate that aspect of his writings really does Nietzsche and the reader a disservice.

Those three books are pretty much the holy trinity of Nietzsche's writing, IMHO. They will give you a pretty well rounded knowledge of his philosophy. If you get those three books down and enjoy them, I would suggest reading "On the Genealogy of Morality", then "The Twilight of Idols/The Anti-Christ", and finally "Ecce Homo". There's not really any reason to read his other works, except maybe "Daybreak" and "The Gay Science", most of them deal with his obsession with Wagner and aesthetics which I, personally, don't find all that interesting.

Good luck with "Human, All Too Human". I think of all his books that one is my favorite.

[momophile]

30. the Nietzsche book that I own and have never read

is conveniently a Kaufmann translation. Maybe I'll give it a shot. Maybe...

[LostInAnomie]

39. You really should.

If you take the time and read deeply enough it really causes you to question conventional society and morality, and really your own life in general. You'll see how ahead of his time Nietzsche really was (in fact, he's probably still ahead of our time). Even today, he still transcends political classification.

Kaufmann truly had a love for Nietzsche's work, and it is evident when you compare his translations to others. At times, it is almost hard to tell where Nietzsche ends and Kaufmann begins, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your views. IMHO, for the casual reader (like me) or someone that is a virgin reader of Nietzsche, Kaufmann translations are top of the line.

[LynzM]

31. Thanks, I will see if I can find one

I have found several words thus far that I love - but that's more about my love of German language than Nietzsche's writing, itself. I do feel that this translation doesn't quite capture it the way it reads in my head, you know?

[InvisibleTouch]

17. I had a collected volume on my shelf for years...

...and somehow just never got around to it. Maybe some day.

[swag]

19. v. enjoyable

Especially the eminently aphoristic Twilight of the Idols.

[Taverner]

21. I have - He makes sense

But only in that if you consider where and when he was writing.

Fuck the supermen - I just want god's gravesite

[Critters2]

22. I've read Nietzsche, in grad school philosophy classes

and undergrad intellectual history. And I lived.

It's Hegel that'll really do ya in.

[LostInAnomie]

27. Hegel is murder.

It's where all budding interests in philosophy go to die.

If anyone ever asks me about him (and thankfully, no one ever has) I will go with the claim that he was a fraud that hid behind dense verbiage to hide the fact that I'm not bright enough to read him.

[Critters2]

29. LOL!!! That was the problem!! Mystery solved.

I remember the first time I had to read any Hegel. I couldn't figure out WHAT the man was going on about. Then, the prof explained his thesis (and antithesis, and synthesis), and I thought "Geez. Why couldn't Hegel explain it that clearly?"

Dense verbiage indeed.

[Aristus]

24. Oh you HAVE to read him! Nietzsche is pietzsche!

B-)

[momophile]

26. omg. you did not.

you did.....

:hi:

[Aristus]

35. Yeah, I dood it...

...sorry... B-)

[acmavm]

38. Don't be sorry, that was great!

(I know you're not really sorry.) And it's still great.

[struggle4progress]

32. I'll just wait for the Disney cartoon: I think some catchy little tunes will improve it

[LostInAnomie]

33. Yep. I can't wait for the yodeling bear to sing a song about...

... the abyss staring back into him, and the eternal recurrence.

[Critters2]

36. Ubermensch! Ubermensch! Does whatever an Ubermensch does! nt

[susanna]

37. I have.

The memorable quote, for me:

"And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

That one just GOT me. I understand it completely.