Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

Publication Title

1000 Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology

Pages

1-3

Abstract

Nietzsche is perhaps most famous for making the striking claim that God is dead. He writes, "God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him!" (GS 125).

What does this mean? Straightforwardly, it seems nonsensical. God is supposed to be eternal, and thus cannot die. Nietzsche’s claim, however, is that "God" is a fiction created by human beings. Thus, God "dies" when there is no good reason to believe that God exists.

This essay will help us understand this claim, his arguments for it, and its potential implications for contemporary religious and ethical thought.

Comments

Posted with the permission of the publisher and author.

© The author, 1000-Word Philosophy

Original Publication Citation

Remhof, J. (2018). Nietzsche and the death of god. 1000 Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. Retrieved from https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2018/02/13/nietzsche-and-the-death-of-god/

ORCID

0000-0002-7620-3184 (Remhof)

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