Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Gay Science : With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs by Walter Kaufmann, Friedrich Nietzsche ISBN: 0-394-71985-9 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 12 January, 1974 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.77 (22 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Mature Philsophy of Nietzsch Takes Its Shape
Comment: Most of the concepts of Nietzsche's mature philosophy can be found in this book. Nevertheless, the book is not overly serious or dull, Nietzsche is trying to be ticklish and light-hearted, hence the title "The Gay Science." As with most of his other works, N. succeeds in being psychologically insightful, but also has some of the ideas that do not resonate well with modern readers. For example, he philosophizes about "health" and implies that his contemporaries are not healthy enough for Plato's insights and philosophical courage. At one point, he also implies that physics explains everything, and therefore, "long live physcis!" But he himself has never tried his hand in it, nor is it obvious that physics does in fact explain everything.
In this book, Nietzsche is not yet as shrill as he would become in his last four works, written in 1888. He seeks joyful wisdom and can give plesure to his readers and insights for the curious mind.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Pretty Serious Gay Science
Comment: It's hard to give a cursory review of a book of aphorisms. This edition of 'The Gay Science' however comes with observations by the superlative Nietzschian commentator, Walter Kaufmann, who says that "this book is a microcosm in which we find almost all of Nietzsche: epigrams and songs, aphorisms and...philosophical problems, ethics and theory of knowledge, reflections on art and on the death of God, the eternal recurrence and even Zarathustra." This is about as good a review of 'The Gay Science' as any.
I must say that of the 4 other Nietzschian works I have read (BG&E, Geneology of Morals, BOT, and Antichrist) this is the best, most complete, and most enjoyable so far. This book showcases Nietzsche for what is probably his most noticable strength: his ability as a psychologist and sociologist. He seems to have a good understanding of the types of innate moves people possess and utilize in their respective environments. Probably his understanding of exatcly what that environment is, namely, his sense of objective reality, is what allows him to comment so precisely on human nature. True, he's an indefensibly offensive misogynist and war monger, and that notwhithstanding, many of his observations are still germane in this day and age, which suggests an accute sense of psychology and anthropology on his part; although naturally a bit dated. Of course, I believe that in modern America we tend to discount the utter sagacity of 19th century Europeans in their pragmatism. Perhaps Nietzsche just seems sagacious compared to the discourse of present day America. His comments on hegemony, or how the ruling class manipulates the masses into cooperation are great. Nietzsche's love of science and his comments on the silliness of self-proclaimed objective types is excellent too. The opening aphorism of Book Two, entited "To the Realists-" is a clarion mockery to those so enamoured with logic that they deny, zombie-like, their own humanity and necessary (if not intentional) delusion.
Previously I was confused by Nietzsche's style. After hearing some lectures by professor Bob Solomon I came to understand how utterly ironic Nietzsche is trying to be in his writing from the outset. The title of this book, the 'Gay' science is trying to tell us that. Only by not taking Nietzsche seriously, by understanding his intentional irony and sarcasm, can one begin to hear him seriously. For all this book's sturm und drang it is frivolous and insignificant; and what of life isn't? so be gay and carefree my friends (while keeping watch with a jaundiced eye)! hence the nascent, cheerful, crushing existentialism of Nietzsche. Life is a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing, so let's go have a beer and catch some of the performance art of the wise, having ourselves a good laugh over their wardrobes and posturing. In this context, in his clever craftiness and irony, Nietzsche's message congeals to reveal the mind of, if not a mentally deranged person (who of us isn't after all), then a mind twisted into a sage of sorts who, motivated and feuled by an almost divine derangement, serves as a valuable alterego sibling. Nietzsche burns the midnight oil as a sibyl for our collective subconscious. This is the best work by Nietzsche I have read yet.
Rating: 5
Summary: After having read the book...
Comment: and having glanced over some reviews I have come to a conclusion, particularly about C. Khidr's review- Penguin classics was right- misinterpretation is very abundant... The text with many aphorisms and the fascinating prose that distinguishes Nietzsche from a multitude of other writers "dances"- however the dance comes at a price to the reader-
the dance is esoteric.
For those who say that the antireligious-antigod argument is weak, perhaps you'll be best served reading the Antichrist. Some Freud will do you well to explain psychology and how it leads to religion. Those who find psychological proofs unconvincing against God, are pretty much fools, as namely these arguments unravel the fabrication easily by showing the psychology behind the creation. As for the child-separated-from-the-mother, and thirst-leads-to-water arguments, I couldn't agree less. These are all physical arguments, while clearly religion and belief in God has rooted itself in spirituality; religion is far from praising physical attributes. Also, if you read psychology, the baby doesn't cry for its mother!-the baby cries for itself. Similarly, humans don't worship god!-they worship themselves. Besides haven't many authors already proven that creation of gods has been a means of control of power to actually disagree with Nietzsche on this point? And, thirst leads us to water? Hardly- I have never heard of anyone following their nose in a desert to water. Plus, once again this is a physical need while religion is spiritual. It seems that the only weak argument here is C. Khidr's.
As for the dominating-perspective anti-Nietzsche argument, this is clearly false also. Nietzsche himself states in Beyond Good and Evil, should you care to look, that this is only HIS perspective on truth.
How worshipping animals leads us to divine I do not understand. I hardly comprehend how the forms listed by C.Khidr manifest animal worship. Nietzsche says, and I agree, religion and current forms of government are anti natural, not to mention contradictive (have you ever though that in democracy freedom, equality, rights, and unity are incompatible?). And aren't animals part of nature?
He doesn't question his suppositions you say? Why, of course he does. If you have cared to read the introduction by r.j. hollingdale to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, he says that Nietzsche was forced to qualify, agree, or negate opinions within his own text because of the lack of audience at that time.
Remember, Nietzsche is not something to dive in head first and make immediate conclusions about.
 |
Title: Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche ISBN: 0486406636 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 16 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $3.50 |
 |
Title: The Will to Power by Friedrich Nietzsche ISBN: 0394704371 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 12 August, 1968 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
 |
Title: Beyond Good & Evil : Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future by Walter Kaufmann, Friedrich Nietzsche ISBN: 0679724656 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 17 December, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
 |
Title: Nietzsche: Human, All Too Human : A Book for Free Spirits by Friedrich Nietzsche, R. J. Hollingdale, Richard Schacht, Karl Ameriks, Desmond M. Clarke ISBN: 0521567041 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: 07 November, 1996 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
 |
Title: On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo by Walter Kaufmann, Friedrich Nietzsche ISBN: 0679724621 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 17 December, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
