Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 - August 25, 1900) was a German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist. He wrote critical texts on religion, morality, contemporary culture, philosophy and science. Nietzsche's influence on modern thinking beyond philosophy, notably in existentialism, nihilism and postmodernism. His style and radical questioning of the value and objectivity of truth have resulted in much commentary and interpretation. His key ideas include the death of God, perspectivism, the ?bermensch, amor fati, the eternal recurrence, and the will to power. In 1889, Nietzsche suffered a mental collapse. An often-repeated tale states that Nietzsche witnessed the whipping of a horse, threw his arms up around its neck to protect it, and then collapsed to the ground. Nietzsche suffered at least two strokes, which partially paralysed him and left him unable to speak or walk. After contracting pneumonia in 1900 he had another stroke and died. This image has been color enhanced.