Laughter and madness in Plato and Nietzsche: a provocation insinuating approximation

Abstract

This paper presents the beginning of a research that intends to identify not only the well known differences between Plato and Nietzsche, but also perhaps unusual approaches between them. It’s impossible to deny Nietzsche’s antiplatonism. However, I suggest the hypothesis that these two thinkers, that are at the two ends of occidental metaphysics, have the same soul, I mean, they practice an extremely vigorous criticism in relation to their time, motivated by the same question: overcome the mediocrity on behalf of a noble and free man, besides being both excellent writers. It’s sure that the practice of this criticism was done with completely contrary instruments. While Plato had the necessity to criticize the poets, Nietzsche had the necessity to criticize the Platonism. While one of them asserts the intellect and the “beyond”, the other asserts the body and the Earth. The effort of this research is to show that although there are such radical differences, it’s possible to understand that, instead of opponents, Nietzsche and Plato are very near, considering their critic impulse.