Beyond Good and Evil

Beyond Good and Evil (1886) is a work by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, in which he tackles similar issues from his previous book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. If the prior work was one of philosophical literature, Beyond Good and Evil is pure philosophy: it's a collection of 296 aphorisms, each only one or two sentences, which are broken up into nine chapters based on common themes. Nietzsche's tenet that philosophers of the past lacked real critical abilities due to their blind acceptance of morality, especially Christian dogma, is here in full force. At the center of Nietzsche's philosophy is the "will to power," which he outlines in full.

Naturally Nietzsche has been labeled an "atheist," but if his line of thought is followed through, an ideal world of the mind and spirit would transcend both "theism" and "atheism," and old Platonic dualities which no longer have any benefit to mankind would be tossed. Thus what we need a new philosophy and a new kind of philosopher for the coming era. That said, he doesn't give us a new philosophy, he just states that the old ones are bunk. His work is not for everyone, certainly - Nietzsche will offend as many readers as he enlightens. It is immensely creative, powerful, and provocative, and should be read by anyone (albeit slowly) with a passion for the life of the mind. Beyond Good and Evil is dedicated to those who can break free of dogma and cut to the pure and unadulterated essence of the human condition, those "Philosophers of the Future."