Nietzsche is one of the bravest, most insightful philosophers that our species has produced. He was misunderstood in his own time and generally not well understood or appreciated in our time. But his contributions to the world of ideas cannot be underestimated. Nietzsche exposed one crucial element within the human condition better than anyone else. And that was the artificial limitations we place on ourselves are the cause of our unhappiness, our stupidities, and our arrogance. He was right about that! One of those limitations in particular is how religion makes people servile, robs them of both their initiative and rational capacities.

Nietzsche's challenge is to achieve personal responsibility. And he meant that not only in the small ways, but in the "big" way: to be responsible to your own aspirations, to your potential to become better. That was the concept for the overman-- a human of personal courage who would gladly stand against the idiocies of superstition (like religion).

Nietzshe may not be everyone's cup of tea. In fact, reading his work can be as challenging as the ideas themselves. But the work is potent! Few others are even worthy to stand in his shadow.

Unfortunately, his ideas and writings were twisted, perverted, and co-opted by lesser minds. Still, reading Nietzsche is like throwing oneself into a cold lake; surprising, alarming, and then exhilarating. Good stuff, if you can take it.

(And I also agree with electropath: it's the hard questions that make us better.)

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Nietzsche? | Yahoo Answers