Nietzsche: At the Turning Point of the Century

Author: Zhou Guoping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-01
Features: A set of healthy teeth and a strong stomach—this is all I expect from you! If you can tolerate my books, we must be a good match! Nietzsche: "To My Readers" In the history of Western philosophy, Nietzsche has always been a controversial figure. Nietzsche once proposed the slogan of "re-evaluating all values," yet since the end of World War II, he himself has become an object of re-evaluation. This is not surprising. History is advancing steadily, the world is changing rapidly, and people's thoughts, ideas, perspectives, as well as the standards and methods for evaluating things, will inevitably change along with it. The evaluation of people is also not fixed; the saying "judged only after death" seems to contradict dialectics. As time passes, things that were once incomprehensible may now become understandable, and things that were once ignored or abandoned may now be valued again, revealing new meanings. Are there not enough such examples in history? In China, the fate of Nietzsche's philosophy has not been auspicious. At the beginning of the last century, when it was first introduced to China, it became popular among some intellectuals for a time, but then it was distorted and misused by certain individuals, aligning with the "Nietzsche fever" stirred up by the German fascists. Since then, it has been burdened with various bad reputations. Despite Nietzsche's growing influence in contemporary Western society, we have not published a single book on him or research works by Chinese scholars commenting on Nietzsche in the past three decades. This situation cannot be considered normal. What kind of person was Nietzsche? What new philosophical questions did he raise? What is his relationship to the modern era? What role and influence has he had on the development of modern Western thought? To this day, not only among the general readership but also among many comrades in the philosophical circles, there remains confusion. This lag in Nietzsche studies hinders our deep understanding of the development of modern Western thought. Therefore, it is indeed an important task for Western philosophy research in China to seriously study Nietzsche and scientifically re-evaluate him in accordance with the true nature of his philosophy. Comrade Zhou Guoping's work represents an initial attempt to re-evaluate Nietzsche. Based on a thorough study of Nietzsche's life and works, and relying on primary materials, he has independently arrived at insights that differ significantly from conventional understandings. I believe this is something worth welcoming. I hope readers do not misunderstand this work as a defense of Nietzsche. Before the historical court, only the weak need defense, and Nietzsche was certainly not weak. What he needed was not defense but understanding. The work provides precisely a new understanding of Nietzsche. Nietzsche's philosophy is a product of a certain stage in the development of capitalist society, and it uniquely foretold the profound spiritual crisis in modern Western society. Therefore, when studying Nietzsche's philosophy, it is essential to fully account for its duality and complexity. When dealing with complex matters, it is particularly important to conduct thorough research, respect objective facts, and analyze specific situations from a Marxist perspective, methodology, and standpoint. It is crucial to avoid starting from simplistic rules and being constrained by preconceived notions, making hasty metaphysical conclusions based on secondhand information. Starting from reality and conducting a concrete analysis of specific matters is the soul of Marxist dialectics. This principle must not be forgotten when studying figures and ideas in the history of philosophy. Of course, during the process of research and analysis, differing opinions and perspectives are inevitably produced, especially regarding figures like Nietzsche, who may receive different or even opposing evaluations. I believe that on such academic issues, there can be no "uniformity of opinion," and the only correct approach is to allow for free and extensive discussion, improving our understanding through "freedom of thought and debate." This will enable us to provide a truly Marxist and scientific explanation of Nietzsche's philosophy on a deeper level of understanding. If Comrade Zhou Guoping's work can spark readers' interest in Nietzsche's philosophy, encourage them to reconsider the questions he raised, and promote research and discussion on Nietzsche, then it will have done a great service to Western philosophy research in China. Yu Xin