Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

We Philologists Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

In this intriguing early paper, Nietzsche describes his fellow philologists physical and mental proclivities with the barbed frankness which soon became his signature style.

This early text was first written by Friedrich Nietzsche around 1874, but was only published after his death in 1900. The title refers to philology - the study of ancient languages - which was Nietzsche's academic specialty prior to venturing into philosophy full-time.

Something of a critique of education at large, in this text the philosopher examines and compares the nature of academics he witnessed and studied among during his years as a philologist with the Ancients whose languages they study. His anecdotes are forthright and pointed - the students and their masters are physically and mentally deficient in comparison to the ideal of the Greek, who is depicted as fit, speaking clearly, and possessed of keen mental acuity. The discussion expands somewhat to range across classical antiquity and mythology, its meaning and importance, and comparisons to Nietzsche's late 19th century Germany.

In many respects a prelude to his various forthright treatises on religion, morality and society, these writings were produced while Nietzsche was still a young man. They are considered by scholars to be a series of drafted notes sketching out the principles of a book rather than a standalone treatise in their own right.