When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin Yalom

When Nietzsche Wept
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When Nietzsche Wept
Nietzsche’s Destiny
The nature of Nietzsche’s treatment uniquely depicts the Adlerian perspective. The primary hypothesis in the approach is that every individual has a distinct role and purpose curved for themselves. Although contentions exist in this perspective, the facts presented in this book affirm the argument. Therefore, individuals should ensure they adhere to the path set for them during their lifetimes. Thus, the ideal life is fulfilling one’s destiny. In this context, one can argue that Nietzsche was in despair because he had derailed from his destiny.
Interestingly, Nietzsche’s ‘friend’ Lou Salome had a hazy conception of the hypothesis. Salome writes that “the future of German philosophy hangs in the balance” about Nietzsche’s condition in her letter to doctor Breuer (Yalom, 1992). Salome believes that it is Nietzsche’s purpose to shape the nation’s philosophy. It is perhaps Nietzsche’s intellectual capacity that attracted her to him in the first place. As a result, what was meant to be an intellectual engagement quickly degenerated into an infatuation and ultimately an obsession, to Salome’s concern and Nietzsche’s despair. Salome feels that Nietzsche deserves restoration to his ideal state devoid of distractions such as infatuations and obsessions. Salome must be credited for her capacity to break down Nietzsche’s condition into meaningful bits rationally. Doctor Breuer himself remarks that Salome depicts the potential of an exceptional diagnostician. He wonders whether she has ever thought of pursuing such a career (Yalom, 1992). Living one’s destiny is the ideal life and the source of the individual’s happiness.
In contradistinction, Nietzsche bound his happiness to intimacy with Salome as captured by the sentiments in his letter to her, “to find a friend for my ultimate happiness and suffering” (Yalom, 1992). Such a perspective sets the stage for the conflict of individual persuasions. Adler argued that contributing is the meaning that one could attain in life. Salome was drawn to Nietzsche in the first place because she admired his philosophical insights and believed that he would shape the nation’s philosophy. Salome intuitively knew that the philosophical contributions constituted Nietzsche’s destiny and, eventually, his legacy. On the other hand, she also understood that she also had her purpose that the intimate engagement proposed by Nietzsche would sabotage.
Moreover, Salome believes the best aid one can render to another is to inspire them to make their life contributions and eliminate the hindrances to their course. The treatment of Nietzsche’s despair would, thus, involve guiding him back to his purpose. Doctor Breuer tells Nietzsche, “I believe it to be so - destiny is to be one of the great philosophers” (Yalom, 1992). He asserts that his treatment transcends physical healing by assisting a person in discovering themselves. Nietzsche eventually confessed his obsession with Salome to Breuer, especially after u...