NIETZSCHE Frederick - The Birth of Tragedy, or Hellenism and Pessimism - translated by. Leopold STAFF - 1907

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) - one of the most important German philosophers, also philologist, poet. A man whose views significantly influenced all later philosophy, thinking about man, culture, religion. He preached the decline of Western civilization, based on Greek, Socratic thought and Christian ethics. He contrasted this Apollonian attitude with a Dionysian, vital one (combined with the idea of the will to power and the concept of the superman). He criticized Christianity, but at the same time admired Christ. His thought has received hundreds of interpretations and discussions. It is impossible to imagine modern philosophy without thinking about his influence, the intellectual impact of his ideas. The Birth of Tragedy is the first book written by Nietzsche, but already in it he presents the essential elements of his thinking. Here he focuses on two concepts: the Dionysian attitude and the Apollonian attitude that opposes it. Apollonianism is moderation, reason, enlightenment and the taming and ordering of the world, thus in a sense creating appearances of cognition. The opposite of Apollonianism is Dionysianism, the element that is the essence of life, wild indeterminacy, chaotic and uncontrollable. As a state of intoxication and ecstasy, it enables one to experience reality rather than appearances. Nietzsche quite explicitly seems to advocate this very Dionysian attitude toward the world.

Printed by Jakub Mortkowicz, Warsaw, 1907

Format: 205 x 140 mm, 170s.

Hardcover, original cloth binding with gilt.

Very good condition, slight rubbing of the spine, pencil underlining in the text.