哲学界に多くの論争の種をまいたフリードリヒ･ニーチェ（1844-1900年）の思想は、その死後、非理性的であるとも、分析的であるとも、さまざまに解釈されてきました。ニーチェが発展させた「超人」思想や「力への意志」は、やがてドイツのナショナリズムの中で「奴隷道徳」と「君主道徳」の混同、という誤解を生むことになりました。あいまいな解釈がなされてきたニーチェの思想を概説し、その発展と多くの誤解を解きほぐしていく手頃なニーチェ入門書です。(cf. Continental Philosophy, #043; The Birth of Tragedy (Oxford World's Classics); Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Oxford World's Classics) ほか)
   

• The clearest introduction to Nietzsche available
• Nietzsche is a perennially fascinating, misinterpreted figure, studied on the majority of philosophy courses.
• Tanner's writing is immensely readable and he doesn't fall into the trap of taking a certain moral line or of being patronizing
• Examines the ambiguities inherent in Nietzsches writings, and the many misconceptions about him

 
The philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was almost wholly neglected during his sane life, which came to an abrupt end in 1889. Since then he has been appropriated as an icon by an astonishingly diverse spectrum of people, whose interpretations of his thought range from the highly irrational to the firmly analytical. Thus Spoke Zarathustraintroduced the 'superman' and The Twilight of the Idols developed the 'Will to Power' concept; these term, together with 'Sklavenmoral' and 'Herrenmoral', became confused with the rise of nationalism in Germany. 

Idiosyncratic and aphoristic, Nietzsche is always bracing and provocative, and temptingly easy to dip into. Michael Tanner's readable introduction to the philosopher's life and work examines the numerous ambiguities inherent in his writings. It also explodes the many misconceptions fostered in the hundred years since Nietzsche wrote, prophetically: 'Do not, above all, confound me with what I am not!'