Publisher's Synopsis
The Birth of Tragedy is a philosophical work written by Friedrich Nietzsche, first published in 1872. The book explores the origins of Greek tragedy and argues that it was born out of the fusion of the Apollonian and Dionysian principles. According to Nietzsche, the Apollonian represents order, reason, and beauty, while the Dionysian represents chaos, emotion, and ecstasy. Nietzsche argues that tragedy is the perfect embodiment of this fusion, as it allows for the expression of both principles in a single work.The book is divided into two parts. The first part explores the history of Greek tragedy and the role of the gods in it. Nietzsche argues that tragedy arose as a way for the Greeks to cope with the harsh realities of life, and that the gods represented the two principles of Apollonian and Dionysian. The second part of the book explores the relevance of this fusion to contemporary society, arguing that modern culture has become too focused on reason and rationality, and that it has lost touch with the primal, emotional aspects of life.The Birth of Tragedy is considered one of Nietzsche's most important works, and it has had a significant impact on philosophy, literature, and art. It is a complex and challenging work, but it is also a fascinating exploration of the nature of human existence and the role of art in society.Indeed, what is the Dionysian? This book offers an answer to that question: a ""knowledgeable person"" speaks there, the initiate and disciple of his own god. Perhaps I would now speak with more care and less eloquently about such a difficult psychological question as the origin of tragedy among the Greeks. A basic issue is the relationship of the Greeks to pain, the degree of their sensitivity. Did this relationship remain constant? Or did it turn itself around? That question whether their constantly strong desire for beauty, feasts, festivities, and new cults arose out of some lack, deprivation, melancholy, or pain.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
