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 Vastly Overrated August 26, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I figured this would be a good introduction to the writings of Nietzsche. While I believe it was, I was sorely disappointed in what I found.
In the first part of the book Nietzsche finds fault with every school of philosophy aside from his own. In this section, he raises several valid concerns about the direction and limitation of philosophy to date. In particular, he points out that philosphy has been tied to the tyrrany of words and word opposites (a favorite trap Plato falls into), and that it often is simply an exercise in edifying one's own pre-existing prejudices. He then acts as a guide to these traps by falling into them. Repeatedly.
For example, he generally mocks other philosophers by posing quotes and then asking what it says about the philosopher rather than the subject matter, but if we take this same process and apply it to Nietzsche's work, we get a sad picture of an antisemitic, misogynistic, power-hungry, racial purist who believes in modernism.
At the same time, having read just before this W. Guthrie's translation of Plato's Protagoran and Meno I found that Nietzsche seemed in my mind to be reinventing (perhaps intentionally) the arguments of the Greek Sophists but seemed vastly inferior in wisdom to Protagoras (interestingly the only philosopher he quotes and does not dismiss off-hand). I found Plato's arguments vastly more convincing than Nietzsche's despite the fact that I managed to identify many logical problems with the same arguments (most notably confusing words and concepts, which Plato seems to do quite frequently).
I suppose Nietzsche's great accomplishment was to essentially to badly re-invent the Greek Sophist traditions which lay to some extent at the origin of European philosophy.
At the same time, this *is* an influential work in the modern world and probably should be read for historical purposes.
 What was on Zarathustra's mind on those mountains? June 3, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Beyond Good and Evil clarifies much of what is left in the air in Thus Spoke Zarathustra and hinted at in the Gay Science. It helps to be familiar with TSZ, or at least the Gay Science coming into reading this text, given the subtlety of the allusions to his former writings and concepts, and the elaborateness of the traps the author lays for cursory readers. For newcomers, hopefully BGE will prove to be a catalyst to further interest in the man's thought; if that's the case you have much to look forward to. Happy hunting.
 FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE: "...PUTTING HIS FINGER ON BAD ARTS OF INTERPRETATION" (start here with Nietzsche) May 26, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Beyond Good And Evil (1886) was German existentialist philosopher Friedrich Nietzche's attempt to completely devalue religon, science and philosophy and replace it with a universal reality that allows man's true spirit, his "will to power", to be left unbridled by spirit draining, intellectual and timid conventions. The human spirit must never be stifled! Let man's passions and desires be set free! Nietzsche rips into Voltaire:
Oh Voltaire! Oh humanity! Oh imbecility! There is some point to 'truth', to the search for truth; and if a human being goes about it too humanely - I wager he finds nothing!
Nietzsche will offend almost everyone who reads Beyond Good And Evil. Women, Christians and Jews are all portrayed by Nietzsche as either inferior or misguided. He calls working people (and others) "herd-animals" who need a master, and he scorns France at every turn. You can't take everything here to heart. This was written in the 19th century by a very unconventional and passionate existentialist philosopher. Just the same, Nietzsche was a poetic and optimistic visionary of his day who had keen insights into human behavior:
To talk of oneself a great deal can also be a means of concealing oneself.
Who has not for the sake of his reputation - sacrificed himself?
One does not hate so long as one continues to rate low, but only when one has come to rate equal or higher.
Poets behave impudently towards their experiences: they exploit them.
Beyond Good And Evil is a short book of around 230 pages, and Nietzsche has divided his thoughts into 296 aphorisms, some as short as a sentence, and others several pages long.
While Beyond Good And Evil isn't as comprehensive or influential as his "Thus Spake Zarathustra", it does give the reader a basic overview of Nietzsche's philosophy. God has died. Will To Power. Science, religon and philosophy are misleading and glorify weakness and lack of courage. Live passionately, unabated by convention!
Nietzsche and his works aren't for everybody, but Beyond Good And Evil is an important work from one of the most influential and important existentialist philosophers in history. His works have been twisted and especially misinterpreted, and while I don't subscribe to his philosophy as a way of life, I admire his poetic spirit, passion, intelligence, and courage to explore unconventional ideas.
Beyond Good And Evil?
"That which is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil."
Way Beyond Good & Evil March 3, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Nietzsche had issues...That's all I can say about him. The book itself is a pretty easy read. I don't believe this is a prelude though. All in all, a good book.
 Completely Overrated January 10, 2008
5 out of 10 found this review helpful
Abstract open ended type of book with Nietzsche's opinions and beliefs on good and evil. Opinions on 'slave morality', philosophy, the will to power with a little bit of history thrown in the mix.
There were some great quotes in here that I did agree with. Then we come towards the middle of the book that contains the maxims and interludes part and all goes wrong...
There were some things in here I extremely disagreed with... regarding women. Where he came up with this I have no idea but it was completely off base... I can see how many parts of this book could be misinterpreted and used in the wrong way.
He talks about individuality but the truth is this is for people who need to be told what to think. If you think like Nietzsche thinks- you are 'better'- he has the mentality of a nazi.
This book is not as dramatic as Zarathustra but it's close. I think he feels if he stresses his point enough maybe you will believe him. This book is the opposite of religion yet the same- on the other end of the spectrum.
The bottom line is these are HIS opinions and shouldn't be taken as truth or fact. It's not a completely bad book though I disagree with most and wouldn't take it too seriously- its a pretentious piece of work.
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