Nietzsche, the First Psychoanalist?

This paper examines the work of Nietzsche with a twofold aim: first, to determine to what extent he could be deemed a "psychologist"; second, to rediscover Freud's readings of his texts. To this end, we first assess whether canonical interpretations of Nietzsche have acknowledged the "psychological" dimensions of his work. Then, through a hermeneutical exegetical method, we explore how Nietzsche sought self-understanding from a psychological stance, and how he framed his objects of reflection as psychological problems. Where necessary, we provide explicit ties to psychoanalytical notions. Finally, we summarize our findings to show which aspects of psychoanalysis are part of Nietzsche's legacy, and why he can be considered the first (proto)psychoanalyst.