Friedrich Nietzsche was one of modern philosophy’s most influential thinkers. His philosophical touchstone, albeit warped with fantasy, provides the precept to unmasking the root motives that contextualise conventional Western religion and morality, including theology. His philosophical percepts also have something in them to deeply influence generations of intellectuals — from philosophers, poets, novelists and playwrights to psychologists, among others.
Nietzsche’s raison d’etre of his own brand of philosophical certitude underscored his expression that ‘God is dead’ — the fulcrum that determines intellectual agenda, long after he had imprinted his name in letters of gold, on the sands of time. For an unrelenting foe of nationalism, anti-semitism and power politics, it’s a travesty of history that Nietzsche’s philosophical genius was invoked by Fascists, notably the perfidiously digressive Nazi propaganda machine, to foster fanatical ideologies he had detested with all his mind, heart and soul.
Nietsche — October 15, 1844 to August 25, 1900 — was born in a small hamlet in Prussian Saxony. His early childhood was focused on imbibing the essentials of Lutheran Pietism. His paternal grandfather, a publisher in his own right, had published books defending Protestant values. So, it was not without reason that the Nietzsche household was influential. Nietzsche’s father was pastor at Rocken, under the order of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, after whom Nietzsche was named.
Sadly, Nietzsche Senior died when his brilliant son was but just five summers old. This was precisely the reason why Nietzsche had to spend most of his early childhood among women. Yet, in the final analysis, which isn’t exactly in tune with Freudian belief, Nietzsche didn’t fancy feminism — or, its primary foundation.
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