The Use and Abuse of History

Of course we need to know history, Nietzsche warns, but an uncritical devotion to its study can be destructive and limiting. In this essay, the philosopher presents a complex, many-faceted argument that cautions against excessive devotion to any country's past greatness. Nietzsche writes approvingly of the ancient Greeks' approach to history, balancing a consciousness of the past with modern intellectual, cultural, and political sensibilities.