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Who Is to Be Master of the World? An Introduction to the Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
A unique edition:
beautifully formatted with optimized, easy-to-read fonts;
annotated, with an introduction by Dr. Oscar Levy
includes a functional table of contents.
From the Author, who gave the lectures presented in this book on Nietzsche in 1908: “I am going to speak to you of Friedrich Nietzsche—the Immoralist. A philosopher more difficult to understand, and yet more full of riches for those who do understand him, it would be hard to find.
Why should I wish to speak to you of Nietzsche? The literature which has grown round his name and philosophy is already enormous. If you have read a third of it, you are already informed concerning him.
Nietzsche died but eight years ago, and he is now one of the most striking figures of modern European philosophy. It is with the deepest regret, however, that the inquirer into his life and works, gradually realises how completely and often maliciously, he has been misinterpreted and misjudged;—not only by ignorant commentators and by many of those learned professors who have been lured to the exposition of his works by the latter's inherent fascination, but even by his best and oldest friends as well. That is why I wish to speak to you of Friedrich Nietzsche: because he has been misrepresented, and it were well for you to know him as he is;—indeed, it is a pressing necessity that you should know him as he is.”
Please note: our edition is properly formatted and easy to read on your Kindle, tablet, or smartphone; it is a joy to hold in your hand. Buy it with confidence.- GenresPhilosophy
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2019
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About the author
Anthony Mario Ludovici
84 books32 followersAnthony Mario Ludovici, (January 8, 1882 – April 3, 1971) was an English philosopher, Nietzschean sociologist and social critic. He is best known, perhaps, as a proponent of aristocracy, and in the early 20th century was a leading British conservative author. He wrote on subjects including metaphysics, politics, economics, religion, the differences between the sexes, race and eugenics.
Ludovici began his career as an artist, painting and illustrating books. He became private secretary to sculptor Auguste Rodin. Ultimately, he would turn towards writing, with over 40 books as author, and translating over 60 others.
Ludovici began his career as an artist, painting and illustrating books. He became private secretary to sculptor Auguste Rodin. Ultimately, he would turn towards writing, with over 40 books as author, and translating over 60 others.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 9, 2024
This book, published in 1909 in 1500 copies (mine being #500/1500) is a gathering of four lectures on Nietzsche by the British philosopher Anthony M. Ludovici, with an introduction by Dr. Oscar Levy.
Being released less than a decade after Nietzsche's death is itself interesting, and gives a glimpse into Nietzschean scholarship in its infancy; before the two World Wars, before the century of Ideology and of powerful men trying to implement Nietzsche's ideals. In a way this makes it more honest and true to the source than much modern-day writings on Nietzsche that try to sanitize him and to clear him of guilt by association to Nazism and Wall Street investorbros.
The four lectures contained within are: The Immoralist, Superman, Of All Values, and The Moralist. Together they do serve their function well of being a solid introduction to the works of Nietzsche.
Little has changed in over a century. Or rather, after a brutal "awakening" during two devastating world wars, we are back to where Domesticated, uniform, harmless are again words that fit Europe.
Written before the likes of Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, this seems almost prophetic. Whether or not these can be called higher men or not is of course debatable, but the fact that any system, regardless of how utilitarian and egalitarian it claims to be, is ripe for exploitation by those who see the playing rules seems clear.
I have had this book in my shelf for many years after I encountered Ludovici's name on some online forum. In all these years, it seems that not one person has written a GR review of this work, which I find to be a shame. Ludovici was a quite widely read figure in his time, but his anti-egalitarian, anti-Christian, far-right, pro-fascist, pro-monarchy stances led him to fall out of grace during and after WW2. The past decade has seen the resurfaced interest in more radical "right-wingers" (such as Miguel Serrano, Julius Evola) than Ludovici, so perhaps he will be rediscovered by a wider audience shortly. Possibilities to get hipster-points if you read him now. An interesting figure nonetheless, who here delivers a good introduction to Nietzsche's main ideas.
Being released less than a decade after Nietzsche's death is itself interesting, and gives a glimpse into Nietzschean scholarship in its infancy; before the two World Wars, before the century of Ideology and of powerful men trying to implement Nietzsche's ideals. In a way this makes it more honest and true to the source than much modern-day writings on Nietzsche that try to sanitize him and to clear him of guilt by association to Nazism and Wall Street investorbros.
The four lectures contained within are: The Immoralist, Superman, Of All Values, and The Moralist. Together they do serve their function well of being a solid introduction to the works of Nietzsche.
Conformity with a given, harmless. domesticated type, uniformity of manners, views and ittle desires; these were the ideals of Europe when Nietzsche focussed his attention upon it, and those Europeans who succeded in realising these ideals really believed they had solved the problem of life.
Little has changed in over a century. Or rather, after a brutal "awakening" during two devastating world wars, we are back to where Domesticated, uniform, harmless are again words that fit Europe.
He points out that an environment may be unworthy of one's adapting one's self to it; consequently, that complete adaption to it would be a mistaken rather than a justified step.
Supposing the birth of a higher man to be still possible in the Ghettoes of this future socialistic society, is it not clear that he will find everything ready for him, everything smoothed and flattened preparatory to the assertion of his authority and superiority? Admitting slavery, in some form or other, to be a necessary "condition of every culture", is it not clear, that the mob created by the socialists will be just the ready instrument which the possible higher man will avail himself of?
Written before the likes of Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, this seems almost prophetic. Whether or not these can be called higher men or not is of course debatable, but the fact that any system, regardless of how utilitarian and egalitarian it claims to be, is ripe for exploitation by those who see the playing rules seems clear.
I have had this book in my shelf for many years after I encountered Ludovici's name on some online forum. In all these years, it seems that not one person has written a GR review of this work, which I find to be a shame. Ludovici was a quite widely read figure in his time, but his anti-egalitarian, anti-Christian, far-right, pro-fascist, pro-monarchy stances led him to fall out of grace during and after WW2. The past decade has seen the resurfaced interest in more radical "right-wingers" (such as Miguel Serrano, Julius Evola) than Ludovici, so perhaps he will be rediscovered by a wider audience shortly. Possibilities to get hipster-points if you read him now. An interesting figure nonetheless, who here delivers a good introduction to Nietzsche's main ideas.
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