What did Nietzche think of the Spartans?

Question

Every time I hear or read of ancient Spartans and ancient Spartan society, I can't help but think of Nietzsche. If I were to imagine a perfect Nietzschean society, it would be very similar to the Spartans. Is this an appropriate connection?

Answer 1

I can see where you might think so, but let's not forget that Nietzsche would have undoubtedly been killed by the Spartans - he was habitually ill and weak, after all.

And though he undoubtedly knew a fair amount about them, having started his college studies with the Greeks, I think we have a lot more information about a more modern parallel - the Nazis.

There can be little doubt the Nietzsche loathed the Nazis. He hated his friend Wagner for assisting them (even if only with music) so much that he wrote a whole book about it. He despised his sister for trying to lend his name to the movement. So at least as far as the Nazis resemble the Spartans, we can see where he'd have a problem.

And while Spartans did seem to believe in carving a place for themselves in the universe, there's really not much else to recommend them, as far as Nietzsche's philosophy is concerned. While physically strong, they scorned arts and philosophy. They weren't so much interested in growth and overcoming challenges as they were in their own sort of egocentric domination.

Curiously enough, it was this stubbornness that led them NOT to actually fight the Persians about a hundred years after the battle of Thermopylae. Spartans, thinking themselves better than everyone else, proved themselves WORSE by refusing to participate unless they were in charge.

When Alexander the Great took Persia without the help of Sparta, he mockingly sent 300 suits of armour to Athens with the inscription, "Alexander son of Philip, and the Greeks - except the Spartans - from the barbarians living in Asia". How can you think well of that?

Answer 2

@ Doctor Why:

Both Nietzsche and Wagner were long deceased before the advent of Adolf Hitler's National Socialism and the Third Reich. You have no idea what you're talking about.