The Development of Existentialism in the 19th Century

The Emergence of Existentialism in the 19th Century

The 19th century was a time of significant intellectual upheaval as the Enlightenment's rationalism began to give way to Romanticism and the early stirrings of Modernism. In this context, existentialism began to take shape as a philosophical movement that would deeply question the nature of existence and the individual's place in the world. Thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, who is often considered the first existentialist philosopher, and later Friedrich Nietzsche, explored the implications of a world where traditional absolutes and religious certainties were increasingly called into question. They pondered the role of the individual in creating meaning in an indifferent or even hostile universe.

Friedrich Nietzsche: A Concise Biography

Friedrich Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844, in Röcken, Prussia (now part of Germany). The early loss of his father, a Lutheran pastor, and his younger brother profoundly affected him. Nietzsche was a precocious child with a talent for language and music. He studied classical philology at the universities of Bonn and Leipzig and became a professor at the University of Basel at the remarkably young age of 24. His career as a philologist was cut short by health problems, leading to his resignation in 1879. Nietzsche's later years were marked by increasing solitude and declining health, culminating in a mental collapse in 1889. He lived under the care of his mother and then his sister until his death on August 25, 1900.

Nietzsche's Influence on Existential Philosophy

Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical work laid important groundwork for the development of existentialism, although he himself did not use the term. His explorations of individualism, the nature of truth, and the critique of traditional morality were pivotal in shaping the movement. Nietzsche's existential themes, such as the "will to power," the eternal recurrence, and the Übermensch, challenged individuals to forge their own paths and values in the absence of divine guidance. His work profoundly influenced later existentialist thinkers, including Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, who grappled with the absence of inherent meaning in human life.

Nietzsche's Critique of Religion and Morality

Nietzsche's critique of religion, especially Christianity, was rooted in his belief that it had become a hindrance to human flourishing. His pronouncement that "God is dead," found in his book "The Gay Science," was a metaphor for the decline of religious and metaphysical certainties in the face of scientific rationalism. Nietzsche argued that the loss of these certainties left a moral and existential void that needed to be filled with new values. He was concerned with the potential for nihilism but also saw the possibility for the revaluation of values and the creation of life-affirming philosophies.

Nietzsche's Response to Nihilism

While Nietzsche is often associated with nihilism, his philosophy actually sought to overcome the nihilistic tendencies of his time. He predicted that the decline of religious authority would lead to a widespread sense of meaninglessness. However, Nietzsche's work aimed to inspire a reevaluation of values based on earthly life and human experience. He encouraged individuals to confront the suffering and meaninglessness of existence and to use it as a catalyst for personal growth and the creation of new, life-affirming values.

Nietzsche's Views on the State and Power

Nietzsche's perspective on the state was deeply skeptical. He critiqued the idea that the state was the result of a social contract, instead suggesting that it arose through the domination of the weak by the strong. Nietzsche viewed the state as an impersonal entity that could easily become an instrument of oppression, demanding loyalty and obedience from its citizens. He warned against the state becoming a secular replacement for the religious idolatry of the past, cautioning that it could offer false promises of security and purpose in exchange for individual freedom and autonomy.