Abstract

Friedrich Nietzsche acknowledged the important place that many ancient theorists accorded to friendship, and this chapter draws attention to the importance of friendship among higher individuals in the middle period writings. Recognizing this requires some reconsideration of the belief that Nietzsche holds great individuals to be utterly autonomous and indifferent to the judgements and opinions of others. Some of the characteristics of higher friendship are identified, and Nietzsche’s suggestion that such friendships can contribute to self-knowledge is discussed. The relationship between friendship and solitude is also drawn out.