| This master's thesis is entitled "Nietzsches Philosophie der Dekadenz in Thomas Mains Roman Der Zauberberg. Zu Rationalitat, Metaphysik and Erziehung." It focuses on Mann's treatment of Nietzsche's critiques of rationality, metaphysics and education. It is argued that the characters Settembrini and Naphta, who attempt to educate the main character, Castorp, personify Nietzsche's critiques of rationality and metaphysics, and their interweavement, as both rely on a common feature: belief. As a reaction to this confusion, the relativistic approach of Castorp increases and leads him to passivity and indifference. The failure of his education evokes Nietzsche's critique of an education which does not teach one to define one's own values and set oneself a goal. The fact that Castorp's fate evokes Nietzsche's in the novel is interpreted as Mann's critique of Nietzsche's philosophy, especially of his perspectivism. |
