Nietzsche's Enlightenment : The Free-Spirit Trilogy of the Middle Period

While much attention has been lavished on Friedrich Nietzsche’s earlier and later works, those of his so-called middle period have been generally neglected, perhaps because of their aphoristic style or perhaps because they are perceived to be inconsistent with the rest of his thought. With __Nietzsche’s Enlightenment__, Paul Franco gives this crucial section of Nietzsche’s oeuvre its due, offering a thoughtful analysis of the three works that make up the philosopher’s middle period: __Human, All too Human__; __Daybreak__; and __The Gay Science__. It is Nietzsche himself who suggests that these works are connected, saying that their “common goal is to erect __a new image and ideal of the free spirit__.” Franco argues that in their more favorable attitude toward reason, science, and the Enlightenment, these works mark a sharp departure from Nietzsche’s earlier, more romantic writings and differ in important ways from his later, more prophetic writings, beginning with __Thus Spoke Zarathustra__. The Nietzsche these works reveal is radically different from the popular image of him and even from the Nietzsche depicted in much of the secondary literature; they reveal a rational Nietzsche, one who preaches moderation instead of passionate excess and Dionysian frenzy. Franco concludes with a wide-ranging examination of Nietzsche’s later works, tracking not only how his outlook changes from the middle period to the later but also how his commitment to reason and intellectual honesty in his middle works continues to inform his final writings. While much attention has been lavished on Friedrich Nietzsche & rsquo;s earlier and later works, those of his so-called middle period have been generally neglected, perhaps because of their aphoristic style or perhaps because they are perceived to be inconsistent with the rest of his thought. With Nietzsche & rsquo;s Enlightenment, Paul Franco gives this crucial section of Nietzsche & rsquo;s oeuvre its due, offering a thoughtful analysis of the three works that make up the philosopher & rsquo;s middle period: Human, All too Human; Daybreak; and The Gay Science. It is Nietzsche himself who s With This Book, Paul Franco Gives This Crucial Section Of Nietzsche's œuvre Its Due, Offering A Thoughtful Analysis Of The Three Works That Make Up The Philosopher's Middle Period:' Human, All Too Human'; 'daybreak'; And 'the Gay Science'. Human, All Too Human And The Problem Of Culture -- Daybreak And The Campaign Against Morality -- The Gay Science And The Incorporation Of Knowledge -- The Later Works: Beyond The Free Spirit. Paul Franco. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 18 Prologue: Birth of a Free Spirit......Page 20 One: Human, All too Human and the Problem of Culture......Page 32 Two: Daybreak and the Campaign against Morality......Page 76 Three: The Gay Science and the Incorporation of Knowledge......Page 120 Four: The Later Works: Beyond the Free Spirit......Page 180 Epilogue......Page 244 Notes......Page 248 Index......Page 276 Offers an analysis of the three works that make up the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's middle period: "Human, All too Human"; "Daybreak"; and, "The Gay Science". This title argues that in their favorable attitude toward reason, science, and the Enlightenment, these works mark a sharp departure from Nietzsche's earlier, romantic writings.