I studied Nietzsche in philosophy class in college, and it's correct that it's his sister who twisted his writing when he was incapacitated with syphilis. Nietzsche himself abhorred what the Nazis stood for. If you want a quick intro to Nietzsche, there's a book in the series "Philosophers in 90 Minutes" that covers him; it's like Cliffs Notes for different philosophers. ;)
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Thank you for that response. It's hard to think of a writer who has had a greater impact on several generations than Nietzsche has had. My inclination is to dismiss him with disdain, but, as one of my teachers (long, long ago) explained, he is a powerful philosopher. It would be arrogant of me to dismiss him.
How to get to the truth of the matter? If his sister and the Nazis did indeed edit his work, how do we know what he said? I'd have to look at any material that existed before others got to it. However, the individual, Nietzsche, doesn't matter so much as his writing matters. It is his writing, such as we have it, that holds power. It is his writing that we must judge. History and time will treat many of us unjustly. He is stuck with what we have, however that came to be.
I will read his own words, if I want to know more. I will read other scholars if I want to understand more. I'm pretty much a primary source person. So, I think I'll skip the 90 minute version 😆.
As for Nietzsche having syphilis: we really don't know. If you see the reference I offer, there are other explanations for his madness. Syphilis was certainly a scourge in that time. Maybe he had it. Maybe he didn't. Whatever the truth of that, he certainly was mad.
You got such a long answer. Sorry.....