In his first book, The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche observes that Greek tragedy gathered people together as a community in the sight of their gods, and argues that modernity can be rescued from 'nihilism' only through the revival of such a festival. This is commonly thought to be a view which did not survive the termination of Nietzsche's early Wagnerianism, but Julian Young argues, on the basis of an examination of all of Nietzsche's published works, that his religious communitarianism in fact persists through all his writings. What follows, it is argued, is that the mature Nietzsche is neither an 'atheist', an 'individualist', nor an 'immoralist': he is a German philosopher belonging to a German tradition of conservative communitarianism - though to claim him as a proto-Nazi is radically mistaken. This important reassessment will be of interest to all Nietzsche scholars and to a wide range of readers in German philosophy.

What Nietzsche Really Said gives us a lucid overview -- both informative and entertaining -- of perhaps the most widely read and least understood philosopher in history. Friedrich Nietzsche's aggressive independence, flamboyance, sarcasm, and celebration of strength have struck responsive chords in contemporary culture. More people than ever are reading and discussing his writings. But Nietzsche's ideas are often overshadowed by the myths and rumors that surround his sex life, his politics, and his sanity. In this lively and comprehensive analysis, Nietzsche scholars Robert C. Solomon and Kathleen M. Higgins get to the heart of Nietzsche's philosophy, from his ideas on "the will to power" to his attack on religion and morality and his infamous Übermensch (superman). What Nietzsche Really Said offers both guidelines and insights for reading and understanding this controversial thinker. Written with sophistication and wit, this book provides an excellent summary of the life and work of one of history's most provocative philosophers.

"David Strauss: the Confessor and the Writer" attacks David Strauss's "The Old and the New Faith: A Confession," which Nietzsche holds up as an example of the German thought of the time. He paints Strauss's "New Faith"— a scientifically-determined universal mechanism based on the progression of history—as a vulgar reading of history in the service of a degenerate culture. Nietzsche polemically attacks not only the book but also Strauss as a Philistine of pseudo-culture.

In Nietzsche's Coming God, the author demonstrates that the "destructive" and "nihilistic" side of Nietzsche's thought was in fact only a hammer that Nietzsche used in order to destroy the "millenarian lies" of Judeo-Christianity, a necessary - albeit transitory - stage that preceded his ultimate creation: the Superman, an incarnation of the god in the making... the coming god. Contrary to popular belief, Nietzsche was both a free spirit and a deeply spiritual thinker who welcomed the death of the false god - the god who curses and denies life - not as an end in itself, but as a prelude to the rebirth of the divine. Indeed, although Nietzsche was an avowed atheist, he was also "the most pious of the godless," as he described himself in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Nietzsche dreamt of, and augured, a new mode of divinity and a new hope for mankind which, having rejected both religious obscurantist dogma as well as Cartesian rationalist dogma, would be the search for eternal self-perfection and self-overcoming. The death of the god of monotheism thus paved the way for a new, pantheistic and pagan vision of the divine, heralding a "god to come" beyond good and evil, a god who affirms and blesses life. Nietzsche's coming god is none other than Dionysus reborn, or the redemption of the divine. Abir Taha holds a postgraduate degree in Philosophy from the Sorbonne, and is a career diplomat for the government of Lebanon, having previously served as the Consul at the Lebanese embassy in Paris. A thinker and a poet as well, she has spent years conducting in-depth research and analysis into Nietzsche's thought, which has led her to assert the importance of the spiritual dimension of his philosophy, derived from the Vedic tradition of India as well as ancient Greek philosophy. Unlike other Nietzsche scholars, who treat him as a purely secular philosopher, Taha believes that this spirituality lies at the very heart of his thought. In English she has previously published Nietzsche, Prophet of Nazism: The Cult of the Superman (2005) and The Epic of Arya: In Search of the Sacred Light (2009).

'Why do I know a few more things? Why am I so clever altogether?' Self-celebrating and self-mocking autobiographical writings from Ecce Homo, the last work iconoclastic German philosopher Nietzsche wrote before his descent into madness. One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

Have you ever wondered what the phrase “God is dead” means? You’ll find out in Existentialism For Dummies, a handy guide to Nietzsche, Sartre, and Kierkegaard’s favorite philosophy. See how existentialist ideas have influenced everything from film and literature to world events and discover whether or not existentialism is still relevant today. You’ll find an introduction to existentialism and understand how it fits into the history of philosophy. This insightful guide will expose you to existentialism’s ideas about the absurdity of life and the ways that existentialism guides politics, solidarity, and respect for others. There’s even a section on religious existentialism. You’ll be able to reviewkey existential themes and writings. Find out how to: Trace the influence of existentialism Distinguish each philosopher’s specific ideas Explain what it means to say that “God is dead” See culture through an existentialist lens Understand the existentialist notion of time, finitude, and death Navigate the absurdity of life Master the art of individuality Complete with lists of the ten greatest existential films, ten great existential aphorisms, and ten common misconceptions about existentialism, Existentialism For Dummies is your one-stop guide to a very influential school of thought.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE-PATRON PHILOSOPHER OF TODAY'S DISRUPTIVE ENTREPRENEURS His favorite personality was a "free spirit" an obsessed individual with a vision of the future and the will to make it so, a rebel who creates the future with childlike enthusiasm. Now, serial entrepreneur Dave Jilk and venture capitalist Brad Feld extract from Nietzsche a modern Art of War, connecting the dots to our high-tech business environment. Each quick, digestible chapter expands on a quote from Nietzsche to stimulate your thinking about a vital aspect of entrepreneurship, and stories from entrepreneurs help make the ideas concrete. Understand why hitting bottom might be the best thing that can happen, how your firm's "artistic style" can align your organization, and the role obsession plays in your success-and your definition of it. Glean insight and inspiration from every page of this surprising, approachable gem.

What is the meaning of life? In today's secular, post-religious scientific world, this question has become a serious preoccupation. But it also has a long history: many major philosophers have thought deeply about it, as Julian Young so vividly illustrates in this thought-provoking second edition of The Death of God and the Meaning of Life. Three new chapters explore Søren Kierkegaard’s attempts to preserve a Christian answer to the question of the meaning of life, Karl Marx's attempt to translate this answer into naturalistic and atheistic terms, and Sigmund Freud’s deep pessimism about the possibility of any version of such an answer. Part 1 presents an historical overview of philosophers from Plato to Marx who have believed in a meaning of life, either in some supposed ‘other’ world or in the future of this world. Part 2 assesses what happened when the traditional structures that give life meaning began to erode. With nothing to take their place, these structures gave way to the threat of nihilism, to the appearance that life is meaningless. Young looks at the responses to this threat in chapters on Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, Foucault and Derrida. Fully revised and updated throughout, this highly engaging exploration of fundamental issues will captivate anyone who’s ever asked themselves where life’s meaning (if there is one) really lies. It also makes a perfect historical introduction to philosophy, particularly to the continental tradition.

In ch. 6 (pp. 141-170, 193-197), "Nietzsche: Anti- or Philo-Semite? An Examination of His Books (a Dialogue between Nietzsche and the Jews)", following analysis of Nietzsche's references to Jews, concludes that Nietzsche was not an antisemite. Nietzsche's negative comments about the Jews almost all actually targeted aspects of Christianity that he despised. Praises aspects of his thought, like strength of will, that have parallels in Zionist ideology.

"In The Shadow of the Antichrist, Williams fills a significant gap in the scholarly literature by examining Nietzsche's critique of Christianity and his continuing influence. Williams begins with a basic question - What was it about Christianity that caused Nietzsche's agitation? He aims to answer that question not with a systematic survey of Nietzsche's thought but rather through a careful examination of themes that emerge in his ruminations on religion."--BOOK JACKET.