I am no man, I am dynamite
Summary of Ecce Homo by Friedrich Nietzsche
BACKGROUND
Ecce Homo is Nietzsche’s last book and his autobiography. However, it is not as straightforward as autobiographies tend to be. The great philosopher evaluates his life, works, and contribution in his characteristically controversial manner.
THE BOOK
The title “Ecce Homo” derives from The Bible. It is what Pontius Pilate says when displaying a scourged Jesus meaning “Behold the man”.
Ecce Homo is divided essentially into four chapters:
Why I Am So Wise
In this chapter Nietzsche describes some of his wise philosophies such as the point of life is not to win, but to overcome one’s equal. One should only attack things that are triumphant and pursue conflicts where one has no allies.
Why I Am So Clever
In this chapter Nietzsche provides some general advice. These include not pondering questions that are not really questions, or too mundane to be worth pondering. He suggests he never paid attention to religion and states that God is too palpably clumsy a solution. He says one should not drink coffee, as it makes one “gloomy”, but should drink tea only in the morning and water the rest of the day. He also suggests that a sedentary life is the real sin to the holy spirit.
Why I Write Such Good Books
In this chapter Nietzsche suggests one cannot enjoy another book after having read one of his. He also offers advice on women suggesting one that loves you will rip you to shreds and that women are incalculably more wicked than men and more clever. He adds that women can be cured by providing a child. Nietzsche summarizes the importance of each of his previous works.
Why I Am Destiny
In this chapter Nietzsche describes what makes his philosophy destiny suggesting he was the first to discover truth in the Transvaluation of All Values. He calls himself the first “immoralist”, suggesting that in challenging morality he has stumbled upon the only true philosophy.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Nietzsche in the title and recounting his suffering is making a comparison between he and Christ. Nietzsche represents Dionysus, the God of wine, while Christ represents the old morality as The Crucified. Nietzsche’s chapter titles are brazen pronouncements unsung and often persecuted by his age, much like Jesus was persecuted for the pronouncements he made in his when he was fitted with a crown of thorns. Nietzsche believed that the Socratic (reason) and Christian (inverted morality) philosophies were responsible for the degradation of humanity and set himself in opposition.
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