Chapter I Life and Works Chapter II Nietzsche the Amoralist Chapter III Nietzsche the Moralist Chapter IV Nietzsche the Evolutionist Chapter V Nietzsche the Sociologist Summary and Conclusion Books Useful to the Student of Nietzsche Abbreviations Used in Referring to Nietzsche's Works D. D. = Dawn of Day. Z. = Thus Spake Zarathustra. G. E. = Beyond Good and Evil. G. M. = The Genealogy of Morals. Aph. = Aphorism. Chapter I Life and Works "Holy be thy name to all coming generations! In the name of all thy friends, I, thy pupil, cry out our warmest thanks to thee for thy great life. "Thou wast one of the noblest and purest men that ever trod this earth. "And although this is known to both friend and foe, I do not deem it superfluous to utter this testimony aloud at thy tomb. For we know the world; we know the fate of Spinoza! Around Nietzsche's memory, too, posterity may cast shadows! And therefore I close with the words: Peace to thy ashes!"[1] This view, expressed by Peter Gast, Nietzsche's staunchest friend and disciple, at his master's graveside, in August 1900, may be regarded as typical of the Nietzsche enthusiast's attitude towards his master. On the other hand we have the assurance of Nietzsche's opponents and enemies that nothing could have been more utterly disastrous to modern society, more pernicious, dangerous, and ridiculous than Nietzsche's life-work. At the present day Nietzsche is so potent a force and his influence is increasing with such rapidity that, whatever our calling in life may be, it behoves us to know precisely what he stands for, and to which of the opinions above given we should subscribe. As a matter of fact, the inquirer into the life and works of this interesting man will find that he has well-nigh as many by-names as he has readers, and not the least of our difficulties in speaking about him will be to give him a fitting title, descriptive of his mission and the way in which he understood it. Some deny his right to the title "philosopher"; others declare him to be a mere anarchist; and a large number regard all his later works as no more than a shallow though brilliant reversal of every accepted doctrine on earth.