WHAT NIETZSCHE TAUGHT By WILLARD HUNTINGTON WRIGHT I am writing for a race of men which does not yet exist: for "the lords of the earth." _The Will to Power_ NEW YORK B. W. HUEBSCH 1915 TO H. L. MENCKEN the critic who has given the greatest impetus to the study of Nietzsche in America CONTENTS PORTRAIT BUST OF NIETZSCHE BY PROFESSOR KARL DONNDORF, STUTTGART _Frontispiece_ INTRODUCTION I BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH II "HUMAN, ALL-TOO-HUMAN," VOLS. I AND II III "THE DAWN OF DAY" IV "THE JOYFUL WISDOM" V "THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA" VI "THE ETERNAL RECURRENCE" VII "BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL" VIII "THE GENEALOGY OF MORALS" IX "THE TWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS" X "THE ANTICHRIST" XI "THE WILL TO POWER," VOL. I XII "THE WILL TO POWER," VOL. II BIBLIOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION It is no longer possible to ignore the teachings of Friedrich Nietzsche, or to consider the trend of modern thought without giving the philosopher of the superman a prominent place in the list of thinkers who contributed to the store of present-day knowledge. His powerful and ruthless mind has had an influence on contemporary thought which even now, in the face of all the scholarly books of appreciation he has called forth, one is inclined to underestimate. No philosopher since Kant has left so undeniable an imprint on modern thought. Even Schopenhauer, whose influence coloured the greater part of Europe, made no such widespread impression. Nietzsche has penetrated into both England and America, two countries strangely impervious to rigorous philosophic ideals. Not only in ethics and literature do we find the moulding hand of Nietzsche at work, invigorating and solidifying; but in pedagogics and in art, in politics and religion, the influence of his doctrines is to be encountered. The books and essays in German elucidating his philosophy constitute a miniature library. Nearly as many books and articles have appeared in France, and the list of authors of these appreciations include many of the most noted modern scholars. Spain and Italy, likewise, have contributed works to an inquiry into his teachings; and in England and America numerous volumes dealing with the philosophy of the superman have appeared in recent years. In M. A. Mügge's excellent biography, "Friedrich Nietzsche: His Life and Work," there is appended a bibliography containing 850 titles, and this list by no means includes all the books and articles devoted to a consideration of this philosopher's doctrines.