Neitzsche books - reading order?: Philosophy Forums

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Neitzsche books - reading order?

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Neitzsche books - reading order?

Dulac
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Posted 01/21/09 - 11:39 PM:	#11
dwilljo wrote: I just took a class on nietzsche with a brilliant lecturer, barry allen. Here is the order we learned 5 books: birth of tragedy the gay science beyond good and evil genealogy of morality twilight of the idols One semester could do a semi adequate job of one of the smaller of the books, perhaps twilight. These are very deep pieces of writing, and there is so much contextual knowledge the average reader will not have that makes it all the more difficult. good luck! That sounds reasonable to me. I've studied Nietzsche for some time. I personally suggest Beyond Good and Evil before On Genealogy of Morals. That is a good start imo. You can get Birth of Tragedy, Beyond Good and Evil, On Geneology, Case of Wagner, and Ecce Homo (which comes in handy to understand his text) in The Basic Writings of Nietzsche translated by Walter Kaufmann. Kaufmann and Hollingdale are the best translators for Nietzsche (don't settle for less.) These seem to be easier for people new to Nietzsche. Twilight of The Idols then The Antichrist following these does not sound like a bad idea to me. I also suggest Walter Kaufmann's Nietzsche (Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist) which is referenced in The Basic Writings of Nietzsche. What Nietzsche Really Said by Solomon and Reading Nietzsche Rhetorically are also handy books. Edited by Dulac on 01/21/09 - 11:47 PM
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Oberon
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Posted 01/23/09 - 01:30 PM:	#12
Much of Nietzsche's philosophy underwent a series of transformations during his thinking---one has only to consider the subtle changes in his use of "Dionysian" from the Birth of Tragedy to his last works. Because many of his positions are akin to a symphonic theme and variation, reading his works in order of composition has merit. Kaufmann's monumental work in translating most of N's books has become the standard translation,not only because he has a "feel" for the literary quality so prevalent in N's writing, but also because he provides a consistency in translating key terms not found in translators of individual works.

StaticAge
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Posted 02/24/09 - 09:36 PM:	#13
I just want to say that Zarathustra is a horrible starting place for Nietzsche, and my favorite book is the Gay Science. It was written during a fairly upbeat period of his life, contains most of his recurring themes, is easy to understand, full of wit and style, and not very long.
"All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going." -Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Overpower, overcome." -The Cro-Mags

Willowz
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Posted 09/23/09 - 04:49 AM:	#14
StaticAge wrote: I just want to say that Zarathustra is a horrible starting place for Nietzsche, and my favorite book is the Gay Science. It was written during a fairly upbeat period of his life, contains most of his recurring themes, is easy to understand, full of wit and style, and not very long. For me Zarathustra is a great start. It was intended to be a new "Bible" for the masses.
This song will prepare you for a good smile.

Santayana'sSon
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Posted 09/23/09 - 07:02 PM:	#15
F.W.Nietzsche wrote: Read them in the order that he wrote them. You can see his lamentable psychosis develop, culminating in the complete breakdown that marks, Ecce Homo. I think that this is the best way to read Nietzsche and any Philosopher whom you plan to read all of their works. It is important to see the seasons that these minds go through in order to fully understand where they end up.

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