Friedrich Nietzsche and Alfred Adler

This paper investigates the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche’s thinking on Alfred Adler. The complete story can only be abstracted in this paper, and requires a capsule history of the period known as the fin de siècle. This period sets the stage for showing how Adler’s key ideas align themselves to those of Nietzsche. The story must also mention Lou Andreas-Salomé and Henrik Ibsen who influenced the Vienna milieu of Adler and Freud. The fin de siècle saw a vibrant exchange of intellectual thought, only to be changed by World War I, economic loss, and the rise of Nazi domination. Nietzsche died before the rise of Hitler, but this did not prevent his philosophy from being wrongly appropriated to serve Nazi interests. This misappropriation has greatly hindered Nietzsche’s acceptance, as did his provocative style of expression. While his ideas have great value, their influence upon Adler has not been adequately addressed.