Nietzsche and the Earth: Biography, Ecology, Politics

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Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) loved nature and his daily walks in the Swiss Mountains and by the Mediterranean Sea heavily influenced his writing, and particularly his most famous book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. By following the philosopher on these ramblings and reflecting on Zarathustras (Nietzsches alter ego) surprising interactions with the animals he meets on his way, Henk Manschot cleverly shows how all these experiences were reflected in the philosophers thinking on the relationship between human beings and the Earth. Working at the intersection of philosophy and environmental studies, Manschot presents key Nietzschean concepts as the foundations of an ecological art of living for the twenty-first century. In a unique contribution to the field, he also introduces the concept of terra-sophy, which combines the notions of terra (earth) and sophy (wisdom), to contend that humans should reimagine themselves as in a reciprocal relationship with the planet. For Manschot, Nietzsches thought can inspire humanity to move from a human to an Earth-focused relationship to the world; a shift in thought that would considerably benefit a generation facing an unprecedented ecological crisis.

Reviews

This is a beautifully crafted book. Henk Manschot carries us through explorations of Nietzsche and the earth, the pursuit of the overman, and the special relations of Z to his animals to a whole series of personal, gardening, local, philosophical and political tasks for us today as we strive to come to terms with the galloping pace of the Anthropocene. An indispensable book! * William Connolly, Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science, John Hopkins University, USA *
One can write about Nietzsche in many ways but in order to do that well, one should meet a number of conditions: do not rush, but read slowly; do not separate life and thinking, but relate biography and work to each other; and recognize that each interpretation is only an interpretation. Henk Manschot's book fulfills all of this in an exemplary manner. * Paul van Tongeren, Professor of Moral Philosophy and Ethical Theory, Radboud University, The Netherlands *
Nietzsche's call for loyalty to the earth resounds with new meaning as we recognize the depth of environmental crisis. Manschot explores Nietzsche's experiment in living on the earth, introduces his earth-oriented philosophy, and updates it with recent research to develop a comprehensive "terrasophy." Nietzsche confronts the Anthropocene! * Gary Shapiro, Professor of Philosophy, Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities, Emeritus, University of Richmond, USA *

Author Bio

Henk Manschot is Professor Emeritus at the University of Humanistics in the Netherlands. His research focuses on philosophical ecology, interconnections between human and sustainable development and transformations of modern culture.He has also been President of the Socrates Foundation for Science and Culture, Vice-Chair of the China-Europe Foundation (CE-DESD) and Chair of the Encounter of World Views Foundation, which brings political, academic and business leaders together around values of global responsibility, leadership and development