A brief overview of German philosophy: what relationship is there between life and thought? Interview with Rüdiger Safranski

Abstract

In the interview Rüdiger Safranski explores the reasons that have led to the writing of his books, among which his famous monographs on Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Heidegger and his treatises on such wide ranging themes such as truth, evil, globalization. Safranski claims to be particularly interested in the relationship that exists between philosophical thought and the life of the thinker. Among these dimensions there could be a conspicuous scission, as in the case of Schopenhauer, a final “short circuit” (Nietzsche), an odd attempt towards unification (Heidegger) or a spontaneous coherence as in the case of Schiller and Goethe.