Nietzsche’s Dionysian Spirit And Its Practical Significance

The birth of tragedy, Nietzsche’s maiden work, mainly deals with twoissues---explaining the meaning of life, and criticizing the modern culture. On themeaning of life, he proposes dual impulse theory of dionysian and Apollonian, atheory that has creatively explained the essence of art, metaphysically defended theaesthetic value of art for individuals and the whole world, and enthusiasticallyaffirmed the will of life. Dionysus, wine god of the Greek myth, here has become agood weapon for Nietzsche to expound his thought of philosophy. And this weapon isused throughout his system of philosophy, from revaluating values and the will ofpower strong and “superman”. Therefore, one cannot understand Nietzsche’sphilosophy without comprehending the connotation of the dionysian spirit. This spiritseems to be crazy and irrational, while it is essentially the love and confirmation oflife, and the courage to get rid of the bondage, break traditions, be and surpass oneself.The command---be strong and the faith that all creators are strong are two primarycharacteristic of Dionysus. Nietzsche is a maniac philosopher who dares to "revaluateall values", to claim that "god is dead" and to be against everything so that Jaspers, aGerman existentialist philosopher said he brought quiver to the western world.Although his mind was distorted, yet history proves his value. Until now, his thoughtis deeply admired and respected by many people. Despite of some radical and extremein some ways, his concept of dionysian spirit about survival is still enlightenment onmodern society.