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Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was ‘n Duitse filosoof.
Nietzsche kom vroeg reeds in opstand teen die benoude Lutherse piëtisme van die huis waarin hy grootgeword het, sien dit verkeerdelik aan as verteenwoordigend van die Christelike tradisie, en verbind hom tot die herlewing van die Griekse paganisme en werklikheidsbeskouing. Dit lei hom tot ’n verheerliking van mag, soms positief in die sin van die edele ideaal van die Oppermens wat na die aristokratiese streef, maar veral negatief in sy vergoeiliking van geweld, die offer van die onskuldige, en oorlog as middel om die samelewing te vernuwe.
Hy is veral bekend vir sy stelling:
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?