Friedrich Nietzsche
German philosopher · 1844–1900
Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher and classical philologist who wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Beyond Good and Evil. He criticised Christian morality, democracy and egalitarianism as signs of decline and called for a revaluation of values led by exceptional individuals.
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Estimated from their documented words and actions. A simplification, not a verdict.
No strong recorded view.
Criticised democracy and equal rights and favoured an aristocratic order of higher individuals.
Called the state 'the coldest of all cold monsters', valuing the freedom of exceptional individuals.
Called himself a 'good European', scorned German nationalism and opposed antisemitism.
Used war imagery approvingly and praised martial virtues, though largely as metaphor.
Favoured mixing of European peoples over national purity.
Rejected egalitarianism and socialism as expressions of resentment.
No strong recorded view.
No strong recorded view.
Declared that 'God is dead' and attacked Christianity as hostile to life.
Rejected modern egalitarian ideals while also attacking inherited Christian morality.
His idea of the Übermensch implies human self-overcoming, though he said little about technology.