The Quantum Nietzsche

About the Book

Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th century German philosopher, conceived of the universe as a living thing and a partner with humanity. He was able to do this, especially by a complete rejection of Plato's philosophy. Similar ideas will not crop up until the major thinkers in quantum mechanics in the 20th century: John Bell and his laboratory apparatus demonstrating "Bell's Inequality," and in the "beables" and "beers" of David Bohm. By using the ideas of Nietzsche, one can see the uses and misuses of Greek philosophy, especially in the paintings of the Northern Renaissance vs the Italian Renaissance; in Rabelais and the Italian Renaissance; and in Romanticism in general. Nietzsche's work likewise provides a critical point of view to reevaluate the work of William Blake, Pieter Bruegel,Hegel, Luther, Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jacques Derrida, Michel Serres, Gilles Deleuze, many of whom were reacting against Platonism without realizing it. Nietzsche puts man at home in the universe in a way no other philosopher has ever done, thus discounting the bleak views of Camus and Sartre and giving a completely new view of existentialism and Christianity. The author gives evidence that most thinkers have completely misunderstood Nietzsche or have not admitted their debt to him.

About the Author

William Plank is professor of French at Montana State University-Billings, holding the Ph.D. from the university of Washington. He has previously published two books, SARTRE AND SURREALISM and GULAG 65:A HUMANIST LOOKS AT AGING. His interests are the ragtime piano and motorcycles.