Work
Twilight of the Idols
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About this work
Twilight of the Idols is Friedrich Nietzsche's brisk, ferocious 1888 summary of his philosophy, subtitled How to Philosophize with a Hammer. In short, hard-hitting sections he tests the idols of Western thought, morality, reason, religion, by sounding them out to hear which ring hollow. It is the best short entry into his mature thinking.
About the author — Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to 1900) was a German philosopher whose critique of morality and religion reshaped modern thought. Writing in aphorisms and polemics, he prized intellectual courage and the creation of new values.
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People also ask
What did Nietzsche mean by Twilight of the Idols?
The idols are the cherished assumptions of Western culture. To philosophize with a hammer is to tap them like bells and expose the ones that are hollow, clearing the way for new values.
Is Twilight of the Idols a good place to start with Nietzsche?
Yes. It is short and condenses his main ideas, which is why it is often recommended as a first or summarizing read among his works.
What are the famous lines from Twilight of the Idols?
Among the best known is that what does not kill me makes me stronger, along with his warning against giving up on a problem too soon.