: Does anyone know the causes of Nietzsche's ultimate : psychic collapse?
: I have heard that the cause was syphillis;
: I have also heard that this is false, that Nietzsche : was not a patron of prostitutes in his undergraduate days, as is sometimes claimed, and that his neurological disease was congenital, his father having : suffered similarly.
: Does anyone know what a modern day diognosis of his : illness would be?
: the ever curious
: nim
Nietzsche probably had syphilis although even this is not known for sure. There are no known reliable sources to link him to a brothel,although that is a possibility. There is simply to much misinformation about him including and especially from his sister to make her accounts reliable. We do know that he led a fairly ascetic life and that he spent several days nursing 6 men severely wonded and sick with dysentery and diphtheria. He could have contracted syphilis at this time. hope this helps if not to late.