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Democracy and Aristocracy in Nietzsche’s Late Writings

In: Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)

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  • Otto Kaiser

    (Philipps-Universität Marburg)

Abstract

This paper argues that Nietzsche’s thought got its unity by his understanding of the aim of the Greek tragedy to lead the spectator to a cheerful assent to the end of its hero by identifying himself with Dionysos as the symbol of the eternal process of coming to be and passing away. On behalf of his decisive premisses, that after the death of God there is no difference between Good and Bad and that man is nothing than a biological creature, he integrated in this frame in his most mature work Thus Spoke Zarathustra the concepts of the super- or best man and the eternal recurrence. Every body understanding himself as a bridge for the future origin has not only to break down confronted with his own disproportion to this practical ideal in the horizon of his personal recurrence as the same, but has also to assent cheerfully to his end and his recurrence out of love in the eternal process of coming to be and passing away. On this particular background one understands adequately Nietzsche’s scattered notes on democracy as a Post-Christian and despicable, but necessary prerequisite for the origin of a new international aristocracy and subsequently that of a great man and tragic hero.

Suggested Citation

  • Otto Kaiser, 2006. "Democracy and Aristocracy in Nietzsche’s Late Writings," The European Heritage in Economics and the Social Sciences, in: Jürgen G. Backhaus & Wolfgang Drechsler (ed.), Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), chapter 12, pages 229-253, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:euhchp:978-0-387-32980-2_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-32980-2_12
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    Keywords

    Aristocracy; democracy;

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