32 pages 1 hour read

Friedrich Nietzsche

The Gay Science

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1882

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Themes

Egoism

Throughout The Gay Science, Nietzsche treats the concept of egoism as a major theme. Nietzsche proposes egoism as the root of consciousness, which evolves from humanity’s selfish need to preserve the species. According to Nietzsche, both the ancient Greeks and, later, the Christians limited their egoism by belief in divinity. They wrongly believed themselves flawed. Over time, the problem of survival became less of an uncertainty, and the problem shifted to what is the most ideal way to survive. This answer is different for each individual, Nietzsche explains, and depends on one’s instincts; that is, it depends on their identity, which is egoism.Religion lost its authority among individuals who possessed a selfish need to relieve their own suffering.

Nietzsche believes ego drives the quest for all new knowledge:

The inventing of Gods, heroes, and supermen of all kinds, as well as coordinate men and undermen–dwarfs, fairies, centaurs, satyrs, demons, devils–was the inestimable preliminary to the justification of the selfishness and sovereignty of the individual: the freedom which was granted to one God in respect to other Gods, was at last given to the individual himself in respect to laws, customs and neighbors (97).

Nietzsche here explains how the authority of the gods shifted into the hands of those individuals fearless and courageous enough to trust their own instincts towards fulfillment and happiness and eschew herd mentality and moral conventions, which are weighed down by self-doubt.

Related Titles

By Friedrich Nietzsche

Study Guide

logo

Beyond Good And Evil

Friedrich Nietzsche

Beyond Good And Evil

Friedrich Nietzsche

Study Guide

logo

On The Advantage And Disadvantage Of History For Life

Friedrich Nietzsche

On The Advantage And Disadvantage Of History For Life

Friedrich Nietzsche

Study Guide

logo

On the Genealogy of Morals

Friedrich Nietzsche

On the Genealogy of Morals

Friedrich Nietzsche

Study Guide

logo

The Antichrist

Friedrich Nietzsche, Transl. H.L. Mencken

The Antichrist

Friedrich Nietzsche, Transl. H.L. Mencken

Study Guide

logo

The Birth of Tragedy

Friedrich Nietzsche

The Birth of Tragedy

Friedrich Nietzsche

Study Guide

logo

The Will to Power

Friedrich Nietzsche, Ed. Walter Kaufmann, Transl. R.J. Hollingdale

The Will to Power

Friedrich Nietzsche, Ed. Walter Kaufmann, Transl. R.J. Hollingdale

Study Guide

logo

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Friedrich Nietzsche

Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None

Friedrich Nietzsche