Samantha Srinivasan

Samantha Srinivasan

Philosophy 101-01

Prof. Evans

Dec. 16, 1998

Paper Assignment: Topic #3

Nietzsche is known as a philosopher who was very poetic in his writings. He used a real Persian prophet named Zarathustra, as his character within his philosophy. The way Plato used Socrates, Nietzsche used Zarathustra’s mouth to speak his philosophy. An example, how Nietzsche uses Zarathustra in his book is in the chapter entitled “ On the Tree on the Mountain.” Within this chapter, the story represents certain aspects that are important to Zarathustra (Nietzsche).

The chapter begins, with Zarathustra noticing that a youth was avoiding him, but later encounters him in the mountains. The chapter further continues, with the fact that Zarathustra finally speaks to the youth and asks him why he is afraid. Zarathustra continues talking to the youth by telling him a parable about a tree that is waiting for something on the mountainside. The youth tries to confine with Zarathustra, and Zarathustra advises him to not give up his hope and freedom in life.

This chapter clearly relates to the notion of the overman. In Zarathustra’s Prologue, when Zarathustra speaks to a crowd of people in a town who are waiting for a tightrope performance. He speaks to the people of the overman as the meaning of the earth. Zarathustra quotes,” Let your will say: the overman shall be the meaning of the earth!” Therefore, in this chapter of “ On the Tree on the Mountainside “ Zarathustra...

Samantha Srinivasan

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