The Writing of Nietzsche and Wittgenstein

Abstract

Nietzsche and Wittgenstein are the forerunners of two very different philosophical
traditions. However, they share a fragmentary way of writing which forces us to
reconsider the importance given to the literary form of thinking. Motivated by
criticism of the egalitarianism and scientism of western culture, both authors’ ways
of writing question the capacity of everyday language to express thoughts and
transform authenticity into something almost indescribable. In this paper we will
analyse the characteristics of Nietzsche and Wittgenstein's works, as well as the
reading conditions which they require, with the aim of determining the role that
literary style plays in their respective proposals.