The Birth Of Tragedy — Friedrich Nietzsche

The Birth of Tragedy 1872 is a book about the origins of Greek tragedy and its relevance to the German culture of its time For Nietzsche Greek tragedy is the expression of a culture which has achieved a delicate but powerful balance between Dionysian insight into the chaos and suffering which underlies all existence and the discipline and clarity of rational Apollonian form In order to promote a return to these values Nietzsche undertakes a critique of the complacent rationalism of late nineteenth century German culture and makes an impassioned plea for the regenerative potential of the music of Wagner In its wide ranging discussion of the nature of art science and religion Nietzsches argument raises important questions about the problematic nature of cultural origins which are still of concern today