Phronimon Volume 3 Number 1 (2001)
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11438
2024-03-29T07:43:48ZSocrates as a problem for Nietzsche
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11497
Socrates as a problem for Nietzsche
South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Evangeliou, Christos
There is a tragic element in the respective fates of these two men of genius, Socrates (446-399BC) and Nietzsche (1844-1900), that connects them and keeps them in the memories of sympathetic students of philosophy, in spite of the distance of time separating their earthly existence, their major temperamental differences, their distinct methods of expression as teachers and thinkers, and the many bad things the one has written about the other. For they were misunderstood and mistreated by their contemporaries, while they were alive; and only after their tragic deaths were they recognized and honoured as significant turning points in the history of European thought and culture, perceived now as heroes and martyrs of the spirit, the human spirit in its titanic
and repeated attempts to liberate itself from the fetters of common customs and stupidity in order to live in accordance with the demands of human dignity understood differently by each, but felt deeply in their sensitive souls, and expressed
exceptionally in their self fashioned lives.
Appears in Phronimon, Volume 3 Number 1(2001)
2001-01-01T00:00:00ZAn optimistic Nietzsche : from laying blame to saying yes
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11496
An optimistic Nietzsche : from laying blame to saying yes
South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Du Plessis, Louis
The writings of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche speak in countless voices about innumerable questions of life. In this paper a very tentative perspective is provided on a few
phenomena related to human wisdom. After introducing Nietzsche's style, some of his comments on the function of knowledge are explored. The emphasis falls on the usefulness of
insights, on intellectual arrangement and on historical consciousness. Moving from this, Nietzsche's critical approach to morality is highlighted, with tentative answers to questions on the nature of moral judgements, the difference between good and evil, modern moralities as being anti-natural, and negative moralistic inclinations to judge, to complain, to find guilt and to lay blame. In contrast to the previous exposition of moralism, the third section deals with Nietzsche's positive approach to rationality, the scientific method and truthfulness, and stresses the overcoming of passions and guilt feelings under the influence of
increasing insight. It is argued that a genuine philosopher does not judge others indiscriminately, does not blame circumstances,
but takes his stand beyond good and evil. He is spiritually strong enough for every kind of understanding, comprehending and approving. It is pointed out that, for Nietzsche, one of the crucial questions is to see whether the human race could transform itself from a moral to wise mankind, from laying blame to saying yes to life.
Appears in Phronimon, Volume 3 Number 1(2001)
2001-01-01T00:00:00Z"Dionysian feast with Nietzsche"
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11495
"Dionysian feast with Nietzsche"
South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Papatheophilou, A.
The play "Dionysian feast with Nietzsche" is the second part of the trilogy "Nietzsche, the philosopher and his times". The play attempts to give to the audience some of the main ideas of Nietzsche's philosophy, these being the rejection of the Western moral values of his time, his ideas on education, the concept of the 'Overman' and eternal recurrence. A look at the man himself in a period of his life where he was undergoing emotional transformations (elation and finally rejection) is presented as a series of conversations with his friend and confidant Heinrich Kosehtz alias Peter Cast, which are based on records from his letters. Threaded through the play is the theme of the Oionysian and
Apollonian nature of man and the influence of the above not only to the artistic expression of ancient Greeks in the form of the performing arts but also on himself.
Appears in Phronimon. Volume 3 Number 1(2001)
2001-01-01T00:00:00ZNietzsche's revaluation of the cardinal virtues: the case of Sophrosyne
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11494
Nietzsche's revaluation of the cardinal virtues: the case of Sophrosyne
South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities
Peter Geach is reported to have said that temperance is far from being an interesting subject, but "rather a humdrum common sense
matter". I hope to show that his opinion proves that he did not know the early history of the concept, nor what Nietzsche did on it. My subject will therefore be 'temperance', or 'sophrosyne' or in Nietzsche's language: measure.
Appears in Phronimon, Volume 3 Number 1(2001)
2001-01-01T00:00:00Z