Philosophy Now Forum

by Rick Lewis

http://philosophynow.org/issues/93/Many_Happy_Returns

Rick Lewis reminds us that Nietzsche wrote that “God is dead! Lewis also asks whether he really meant it.

I wonder when Nietzsche wrote that God is dead. Did he write it near his own death? Perhaps he was referring to himself, in the knowledge that he was at death's door and no longer able to dispense pearls of wisdom. Perhaps he said it as something he believed would immortalize him.

spike wrote:Rick Lewis reminds us that Nietzsche wrote that “God is dead! Lewis also asks whether he really meant it.

I wonder when Nietzsche wrote that God is dead. Did he write it near his own death? Perhaps he was referring to himself, in the knowledge that he was at death's door and no longer able to dispense pearls of wisdom. Perhaps he said it as something he believed would immortalize him.

Although it was close to his own death - the comment was not self referring. At the end of the 19thC history had seen a sustained attack on traditional assumptions about god for at least 300 years. N, still a little ahead of his time foresaw the further decline of religion and the death of god.

Zarathustra said it.
"God is dead. And you (simple, despisable people) have killed him."

If I remember correctly.

Nietzsche thought that he himself was God. The God Dionysos to be exact, or his incarnation, if you prefer.

duszek wrote:Zarathustra said it.
"God is dead. And you (simple, despisable people) have killed him."

If I remember correctly.

Nietzsche thought that he himself was God. The God Dionysos to be exact, or his incarnation, if you prefer.

would you care to cite that?