Nietzsche's philosophy of art

This is the first comprehensive treatment of Nietzsche's philosophy of art to appear in English. Julian Young argues that Nietzsche's thought about art can be understood only in the context of his wider philosophy. In particular, he discusses the dramatic changes in Nietzschean aesthetics against the background of the celebrated themes of the death of God, eternal recurrence and the idea of the Ubermensch. The first chapter deals with Schopenhauer, who, along with Wagner, is viewed as the essential reference point for all of Nietzsche's thought. Young then divides Nietzsche's career, and his philosophy of art, into four distinct phases, but suggests that these phases describe a circle. An attempt at world-affirmation is made in the central phases, but Nietzsche is predominantly influenced at the beginning and end of his career by a Schopenhauerian pessimism. At the beginning and end art is important because it "redeems" us from life. This is a clear and lucid account of Nietzsche's philosophy of art. It combines exegesis, interpretation, and criticism in a judicious balance, and will be essential reading for all scholars of philosophy and German studies with an interest in Nietzsche or aesthetics.