Schopenhauer and Nietzche on music

In the realm of 19th-century philosophy, Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche offered contrasting views on the essence and impact of music.

Schopenhauer saw music as a unique art form transcending the physical realm, and directly expressing the world's fundamental nature, or "will."

For him, music was a profound emotional and metaphysical experience that revealed the deepest truths of existence, more so than any other art form.

Friedrich Nietzsche, however, had a more complex relationship with music.

Initially, he celebrated music, especially that of Richard Wagner, for its Dionysian qualities that embraced life's chaos and ecstasy.

Yet, Nietzsche's view shifted dramatically later in life. He began to criticize Wagner's music as manipulative and decadent, arguing that it played on base emotions and contributed to cultural decline.

For Nietzsche, while music had the power to elevate, it also had the potential to corrupt if misused.

This an interesting take for the man who famously said that “life without music would be a mistake”.

As much as I appreciate Nietzche, I tend to empathize more with Schopenhauer´s feelings on music.

Maybe because music speaks to me in a deeper way than any other art form, but of course being a musician myself, my opinion is biased.

How about you?

Have a nice day,

Claudio.

P.D. My interesting “Unusually Classical playlist”, click here to listen.