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The Philosophies of Richard Wagner
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2014
Summary
In addition to being a great composer, Richard Wagner was also an important philosopher. Julian Young begins by examining the philosophy of art and society Wagner constructs during his time as a revolutionary anarchist-communist. Modernity, Wagner argued, is to be rescued from its current anomie through the rebirth of Greek tragedy (the original Gesamtkunstwerk) in the form of the “artwork of the future," an artwork of which his own operas are the prototype.
Young then examines the entirely different philosophy Wagner constructs after his 1854 conversion from Hegelian optimism to Schopenhauerian pessimism. “Redemption” now becomes, not a future utopia in this world, but rather “transfigured” existence in another world, attainable only through death. Viewing Wagner’s operas through the lens of his philosophy, the book offers often novel interpretations of Lohengrin, The Ring cycle, Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger, and Parsifal.
Finally, Young dresses the cause of Friedrich Nietzsche’s transformation from Wagner’s intimate friend and disciple into his most savage critic. Nietzsche’s fundamental accusation, it is argued, is one of betrayal: that Wagner betrayed his early, “life affirming” philosophy of art and life in favor of “life-denial." Nietzsche’s assertion and the final conclusion of the book is that our task, now, is to “become better Wagnerians than Wagner.”
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Bibliographic data
Copyright year
2014
ISBN-Print
978-0-7391-9992-3
ISBN-Online
978-0-7391-9993-0
Publisher
Lexington, Lanham
Language
English
Pages
149
Product type
Book Titles
Table of contents
ChapterPages
Contents No access
Abbreviations No access
Acknowledgments No access
Introduction No access
Chapter 1: The Way We Are Now No access
Chapter 2: The Greek Ideal No access
Chapter 3: The Death of Art No access
Chapter 4: The Artwork of the Future No access
Chapter 5: Schopenhauer No access
Chapter 6: Wagner’s Appropriation of Schopenhauer No access
Chapter 7: Wagner’s Final Thoughts No access
Epilogue: Wagner and Nietzsche No access Pages 131 - 140
References No access Pages 141 - 144
Index No access Pages 145 - 148
About the Author No access Pages 149 - 149
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