A Transvaloração dos valores em O nascimento da tragédia

Abstract

The major purpose of the present study is to make explicit the possible presence of a revaluative approach in Nietzsche’s first published work, The birth of tragedy. That book brings, according to the philosopher, the first signs of his mature central conception: the revaluation of all values, that is, the birth of a new consciousness and new values. In the late period of his philosophical works, such as Ecce homo, Twilight of idols and Attempt of self-critique, Nietzsche points out to that intention of a reformulation of his initial conceptions. That is to say, he declares that The birth of tragedy was his first revaluation of all values. If we mainly focus on his early (1872 – 1875) as well as his late (1886 – 1888) philosophical works, we can find throughout the relation between art and knowledge in what sense the revaluation of all values is to be conceived. It is on art, more specifically on the art of tragedy that Nietzsche sees a positive way for human existence, since art makes life become positive. If mankind adopted a way of life guided by its own artistical powers, it could recognize its proper skills either to create or to destroy moral values, becoming able of promoting a radical change of predominant moral values, that is, a revaluation of all values. Nevertheless, the belief of an unlimited knowledge, which the unartistic tendency inherited from the aesthetic socratism opposes the offspring of a new tragic (artistic) approach. That belief erroneously over-estimates rationality as it were able to solve all enigmas of life. Therefore, The birth of tragedy brings the very foundations of Nietzsche’s late philosophy, since one can find in that work the most important issues of his thought: the critique of an exaggerated rationality initiated by an unartistic tendency named aesthetical socratism; the apology of a tragic wisdom (dionisiac), which will only be apprehended by art. Nietzsche’s struggle, therefore, aimed to call modern mankind’s attention, witch inherited aesthetic socratism, to realize the decadence of a lifestyle guided by unartistic tendencies; he also pointed out that only throughout an artistic existence mankind would be able to overcome decadent values. In that sense, art is Nietzsche’s affirmative proposal in The birth of tragedy which will be maintained in his latest philosophy. That is because it is only by that first work that the philosopher would be able to propose a revaluation of all values in his final work, by means of which life would be toned up in order to become positive.