The Phenomenon of War as an Element of the Friedrich Nietzsche's General Philosophical and Socio-Political Views

Abstract

The article analyzes the phenomenon of war as an integral component of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical and socio-political views. It is noted that Friedrich Nietzsche, in generally, positively assessed war in its various manifestations in the life of society, also considering it a natural, integral part of the social and individual existence of a human being. It is emphasized that this position of the philosopher in the philosophical-historical context had many supporters among famous Western philosophers of different times. In the analysis of Friedrich Nietzsche's direct ideas about war, it is concluded that these ideas have an irrational character with elements of psychologism and biologism. In this context, the organic connection of the irrationalist interpretation of the phenomenon of war with the general philosophical ideas of the thinker is emphasized. Directly, the connection between the idea of war and the Nietzschean concept of the will to power, the idea of superman, and the concept of Apollonian and Dionysian (rational and irrational) culture is pointed out. These Nietzschean ideas are also irrational in nature. In addition to the general philosophical context, the work also analyzes the more practical thoughts of Friedrich Nietzsche regarding war as an integral part of socio-political and cultural processes in the history of European society. It is in this context that this work indicates that many of Friedrich Nietzsche's judgments about the content of the phenomenon of war and its impact on the life of society are useful. They help to understand more deeply and comprehensively the complex nature of the phenomenon of war, relying on psychological and biological considerations in addition to the irrational approach. It is indicated that the problem of war is used by the philosopher for a critical analysis of the problems of European society, which, according to Friedrich Nietzsche and many of his followers, is becoming more and more crisis-like with a tendency towards final self-destruction. It is noted that Friedrich Nietzsche himself saw rationalism as the main cause of this crisis, which, in his opinion, is most characteristic of the existing Western culture. It is concluded that despite some controversial aspects of Friedrich Nietzsche's views on the phenomenon of war, they, nevertheless, have a positive and promising character for the further understanding of this phenomenon. It is emphasized that in today's conditions, in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which is currently raging and has become a challenge not only for Ukrainian society, but also for all of humanity, it is necessary to use all possible tools to understand this problem, as well as to find ways to overcome it.