Friedrich Nietzsche: theology, metaphysics and psychology in search of vitality

Philosophy "The Future of the History of Philosophy" (Thematic issue)

Abstract

The author believes that the current socio-cultural situation caused by the pandemic opens up the potential for intensified research in the field of history of philosophy. However, it is important to orient this research toward reconstruction of the integral world of a particular thinker based on the entire set of documents that record the circumstances of his life. The paper demonstrates this approach as applied to the Friedrich Nietzsche: his reflections and the process of work in the fields of literature, philosophy, psychology, music, and medicine are demonstrated in the context of the circumstances of his personal life and relations with his relatives. In parallel, the hermeneutic components of the modern biographical approach are clarified. The content of the psychological concept of «introvert» is compared with its philosophical and theological meaning. The author considers the interpretation of an introvert as a subject closed in itself and not useful for the society to be wrong. Based on texts written by Nietzsche, the author substantiates that the psychological type of an introvert implies a «super-social altruist» who splits his/her Self and places these elements into all things and all creatures of his/her inner world. At the same time, the «split Self» remains whole, maintaining the connection of everything to everything in the «inner world» and is therefore responsible for it. Thus, the worldview of an introvert (for example, a playwright, theologian, philosopher) is somewhat of a «meaning-making play» which he/she presents to the world so that the world could live according to it.