Friedrich Nietzsche and the Philosophy of Independence
Origins and Context of This Philosophy
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844, in the small Prussian town of Röcken. He would become one of philosophy’s most controversial and misunderstood figures. His father, a Lutheran pastor, died when Friedrich was just four years old. Nietzsche was raised in a deeply religious household by his mother, sister, and grandmother. This early exposure to faith would later become the subject of his most scathing philosophical critiques. His education emphasized classical languages and literature within a household devoted to respectability and Christian virtue. Young Nietzsche proved to be an exceptional student. He entered the prestigious University of Bonn at just eighteen. Later, he transferred to the University of Leipzig, where he discovered Arthur Schopenhauer’s work. Schopenhauer’s pessimistic philosophy captivated him and shaped his intellectual trajectory.
Nietzsche’s career as an academic philosopher was remarkably meteoric and surprisingly brief. At just twenty-five years old, he became a professor of classical philology at the University of Basel in Switzerland. The university waived his doctoral thesis requirement due to his exceptional academic credentials. Yet this achievement proved to be only the beginning of his intellectual rebellion. His early work, “The Birth of Tragedy” (1872), shocked the classical philology establishment. He argued that Greek tragedy arose from the fusion of Apollonian and Dionysian forces. This theory violated every scholarly convention of the time. His academic colleagues were scandalized. His reputation within the university community deteriorated rapidly. However, he maintained his position until ill health forced him to resign in 1879.
Few are made for independence means what
The quote “Few are made for independence, it is the privilege of the strong” emerges from Nietzsche’s broader philosophical project. He critiqued human weakness and celebrated exceptional human potential. This statement likely originated from his writings in the 1880s. This was the most prolific and philosophically rich period of his life. During this time, he penned works like “Beyond Good and Evil” (1886) and “On the Genealogy of Morals” (1887). He also wrote “The Will to Power,” published posthumously. Nietzsche lived in relative isolation during this period.
He moved between Italian, Swiss, and French cities while suffering from severe migraines, stomach ailments, and deteriorating eyesight. Eventually, he became completely blind. Despite—or perhaps because of—these physical tribulations, his philosophical vision became increasingly clear and uncompromising. The quote reflects his conviction that most human beings are herd creatures. They are psychologically dependent on society’s opinions and structures. Only the exceptional few possess the psychological fortitude to think and act independently.
To understand what Nietzsche meant by this provocative statement, you must grasp his critique of “slave morality.” You must also understand his vision of human excellence in his concept of the Übermensch. Nietzsche believed that conventional morality—particularly Christian morality—originated as a tool of the weak masses. They used it to restrain naturally superior individuals. These superior individuals possessed greater strength, intelligence, and creative power. According to his philosophy, true independence requires more than the desire for freedom. It requires the psychological strength to withstand inevitable social ostracism and condemnation. This accompanies genuine nonconformity. Most people, Nietzsche argued, are incapable of this kind of independence.
They have been psychologically conditioned from childhood to seek approval and follow rules. They conform to established values. True independence, in his view, belongs only to rare individuals. These individuals possess what he called “hardness.” They can stand alone and create their own values. They remain unmoved by the judgments of the crowd. This wasn’t merely elitism for its own sake. Nietzsche believed that human flourishing and cultural progress depended on allowing these exceptional individuals freedom to express their talents without constraint.
The privilege of the strong today
One of the most fascinating aspects of Nietzsche’s life involves his relationship with Russian-born psychologist Lou Andreas-Salomé. This occurred during the early 1880s. Despite being one of history’s most misogynistic philosophers in his published writings, Nietzsche was profoundly intellectually stimulated by Salomé. She possessed considerable intellect and independence. He proposed marriage to her twice, and she rejected him both times. She reportedly found his temperament too unstable. Their brief friendship became one of the most significant intellectual relationships of his life. Yet he publicly distanced himself from her after she refused him. Instead, he lavished attention on his sister Elisabeth.
She would later play a controversial role in interpreting and promoting his work. Another lesser-known fact is that Nietzsche was an accomplished composer and musician. He often wrote philosophical ideas to musical accompaniment. He believed that great thinking must have an aesthetic dimension. He viewed philosophy without art as incomplete. Contrary to popular assumption, Nietzsche was not a German nationalist in the contemporary political sense. He was deeply critical of German nationalism, antisemitism, and militarism. He viewed them as manifestations of herd mentality and ressentiment.
One of the great tragedies of intellectual history involves the misappropriation of Nietzsche’s philosophy. His sister Elisabeth inherited his unpublished manuscripts after his mental collapse.