Walter Kaufmann

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This account explores the ideas and writings of a significant figure in twentieth-century intellectual life, Walter Kaufmann (1921-1980). A charismatic philosopher, critic, translator, and poet, Kaufmann fled Nazi Germany at eighteen and became a prolific writer until his untimely death at fifty-nine, producing around a dozen major works characterized by erudition and a provocative style. He played a crucial role in rehabilitating Nietzsche's reputation post-World War II and introduced American readers to existentialism. Until now, no comprehensive study has examined Kaufmann's intellectual legacy. Stanley Corngold offers the first in-depth analysis of Kaufmann's thought, addressing his major works and their relevance to contemporary issues such as the value of philosophy, the impact of religion, the nature of tragedy, and the humanities' crisis in a technological age. Kaufmann's interests spanned philosophy, literature, intellectual history, comparative religion, psychology, photography, art, and architecture. Corngold presents a heartfelt portrait of a man who transformed his personal experiences into his writings. This original study is both appreciative and critical, serving as the definitive intellectual biography of one of the twentieth century's most engaging yet overlooked thinkers, introducing Kaufmann to a new generation while honoring his profound thirst for knowledge.