Nietzsche’s view of Socrates

"My main objective in this book is to contribute to the understanding of Nietzsche by examining as carefully as possible one central concern of his: Socrates. I am well aware of the fact that there are a number of other compelling reasons for studying Nietzsche’s view of Socrates; indeed, I have tried to keep some of them in mind throughout. Such a study might, for example, clarify some of the issues that become prominent when one thinks of the quarrel between the ancients and the modems. Although that quarrel has a long history — Jonathan Swift’s A Full and True Account of the BattelFought Last Friday Between the Ancient and the Modern Books in St. James’s Library appeared more than two hundred and fifty years ago — it is no longer so obvious to us, as it may have been to some previous generations, that it has been decisively resolved in favor of the modems. Therefore, a strong case can be made for an open-minded reexamination of the issues of that quarrel. In this respect it is helpful to devote some care to the study of a modem philosopher who, in turn, devoted care to the study and understanding of ancient or classical philosophy. Nietzsche is such a philosopher. Moreover, one can seek ta understand Nietzsche as a modem who actually quarrels with the ancient Socrates.