Seminal German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche published On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life in 1874. Vom Nutzen und Nachteil der Historie für das Leben in the original German, the work is also often translated as “The Use and Misuse of History for Life.” The seventy-page work is packed with philosophical inquiries into the role historical knowledge plays in an individual’s life and how this knowledge can best be used to improve one’s wellbeing. It is the second work in a series called Untimely Meditations, named after Nietzsche’s belief that the past should actively disrupt the present. The work has been influential in fields such as social and literary studies for asking the central question, “How does history help us in day-to-day life?” Prominent French writer Michael Foucault cited the essay as the most important influence on his work analyzing power structures.
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It adds to these concerns asking: what is the nature of authority in history; when should one forget history; how can history be used to produce better public policies for the
It adds to these concerns asking: what is the nature of authority in history; when should one forget history; how can history be used to produce better public policies for the