Nietzsche and the Aesthetic: The Act of Creation in the 'Gay Science' (SpringerBriefs in Philosophy)

By: Eitan Machter

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Synopsis: This Brief focuses on Nietzsche&’s aesthetics not merely as an artistic field but as a way of understanding life itself. Unlike his predecessors, Nietzsche rather saw aesthetics as a fundamental principle aim of human existence. This volume demonstrates how Nietzsche&’s aesthetic thinking is not simply an analysis of art but rather a comprehensive worldview shaping his approach to morality, truth, and the meaning of life. It traces the development of aesthetics beginning with Nietzsche&’s first major work, The Birth of Tragedy. Machter appeals to the "death of God," one of Nietzsche&’s central claims, as not just a theological statement but a cultural-aesthetic one; and also reflects on the Overman as a response to nihilism. This volume appeals to students and researchers and presents Nietzsche&’s aesthetics as not an escape into the world of art but rather a call for individuals toward a meaningful life.