My initial introduction to the philosophy of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche took place
during a first year lecture on Contemporary Culture by Dr. Adrian Konik at the Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University six years ago. Ever since that introduction to Nietzsche I
developed a personal interest in his philosophy and life. Nietzsche's radical approach and
critique of morality, religion, knowledge and human psychology appeared to be a gateway
into personal self-evaluation. As the researcher I aimed to create a psychobiography of
Friedrich Nietzsche who was born in Röcken Saxony in1844 and died in Weimar, Germany
in 1900. Nietzsche's thought-provoking philosophy challenged the fundamental moral
institutions of his time. His criticism of western culture and the Christian religion was based
on the premise that these moral institutions were not affirming life. Nietzsche's philosophy
has been described as rebellious and destructive with intentions of creating and selfbecoming,
as opposed to the religious constraints he grew up in as a child. As the researcher,
I am acutely aware of the intertwined complexity of distinguishing between Nietzsche's life
and philosophy. Nietzsche himself made paradoxical statements in his quasi-autobiography
(Ecce Homo, 1888), such as "I am thy labyrinth" and "My writings are one, I am another."
These statements reflect the complexity that exists regarding Nietzsche and have been
acknowledged by the researcher with the necessary methodological caution. The researcher
intends to primarily explore Nietzsche's life and not his philosophy, albeit the researcher may
refer to certain philosophical aspects that may contribute to the exploration of his life.
