Nietzsche's prophecy of an overman has fascinated and influenced thinkers in areas extending from philosophy to art, literature, and psychology. Interpretations, however, usually stop short of his own radical and obscure descriptions. Here the author takes an unusual approach through the alchemy in Nietzsche's writing. This is accomplished through European alchemy, and through the author's life experiences and interest related to the work of Carlos Castaneda. Much of the text describes the intricacies of the most crucial of alchemical images - a vision of the peacock's egg; something associated with a deep realisation in Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra". This image is the basis of a human metaphysical anatomy, which also has a history of interpretations in alchemy.An understanding is investigated in which all human physiology and psychology are primarily determined within this anatomy, which is accessible and alterable through a purification process. Consequently, in Nietzsche's terms, it is realistic to maintain that a profound change of the human psyche may be initiated in a human being.
This includes implications regarding medicine, and also extraordinary human perceptual abilities. These ideas are also understood through the early Greek phusis, and a relation to the tragic. This anatomy is then interpreted through pathos and ethos, placing it as the abode or 'vessel' of one's being. Additionally meanings are discussed within mythological and Judaeo-Christian contexts, through Jung, and Nietzsche's use of the Greek myth, and his Rosicrucianism, and through the Kabbalistic theory related to alchemy. Works of modern artists such as Magritte and de Chirico are also described as related to the particular area of the human psyche addressed.
- ISBN10 190523726X
- ISBN13 9781905237265
- Publish Date 1 November 2005
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 1 June 2015
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Troubador Publishing
- Imprint Matador
- Format Paperback
- Pages 272
- Language English