Nietzsche, a French passion. A hundred years receiving Nietzsche in France

Abstract

The history of the reception of Nietzsche’s work and ideas in France has its beginnings before the philosopher’s death. Although in a first stage the affinities with France’s culture and its criticism of prussianism were underscored, after the WW I Nietzsche is presented by several intellectuals as the quitessence of germanity. During the 30’ Bataille and other authors undertake other kinds of interpretations philosophically more fruitful which will have continuity in thinkers as Foucault and Derrida. The last generation of French philosophers as Ferry and Renaut confesses himself as anti-nietzschean, but this history remains open.