Schopenhauer was a member of the generals school of German Idealism in the 19th Century and his ideals were similar to Hegel, whom he disliked. His position is that of immaterialism. The apparent world does not exist independently of perception. In many ways Schopenhauer is similar to Kant as well as Hegel, for example, they both believe that you can deduce by reason that there is a necessary pre-existent formless 'something' which is a necessary condition of the existence of anything at all.
Schopenhauer believed there is only one undifferentiated 'thing in itself' this 'thing' he describes as 'will'. This has the same meaning as Nietzsche which is the will power or the will to be/ to exist/ to live. This concept of will is the same according to Nietzsche as 'eternal fire' in Heraclitus (a pre-Socratic). Nietzsche hated Socrates and believed that the Socrates were only trying to think their way out of things and this method would never work.
Nietzsche believed in the saying: 'god is dead' and that violence would end humanity which must be overcome. The future is full of violence and he was anti-Christian believing that humanity is simply a passing phase.
Life is pain- the cause of pain is desire- achieve denial of the will is intoxication- the best type of this is music. If you are a moral person then you can overcome your desires and also get these desires out which ensures that you won't worry about these things. Nietzsche doesn't believe in Schopenhauer since he believed him to be a bad Christian. He said you should follow your desire as then you will be without regret when you die.
Nietzsche's first book was called 'The Birth of Tragedy' that talks about Greek political organisation.Nietzsche believed that art and music can carry out the same functions a religion because it can express the 'Nature of Humanity'. He believed that true tragedy had not been achieved since the time of the Greeks due to an imbalance between 2 key themes. This true form of tragedy transcended pessimism and nihilism by allowing the audience to look at human suffering and allow them to affirm their own existence.
These two key themes centre on the Greek Gods Dionysus and Apollo. Dionysus was the God of wine, ecstasy and intoxication. Apollo was the God of sun, reason and dreams. Nietzsche believed that a fusion of these artistic impulses create the perfect drama.
Nietzsche hated Euripides for 'destroying' art since he disposed of any Dionysian aspect of tragedy. For example, Euripides introduced plays which were much more realistic and a good representative of reality. This coincided with the Socratic movement of rationalism. He believed that by rationalising everything it would reduce people's ability to engage with art. Nietzsche found all types of form or structure to be Apollonian sculpture since it relies entirely on form. Rational thought enables distinctions to be made between the good and the bad.
He also believed will to be vital. Socrates, however, did not agree. Nietzsche believed the only way to rescue modern culture from self destruction is to restore the spirit of tragedy.
