Danilo Cruz Vélez: el espejo de Heidegger en la lectura de Nietzsche

Abstract

The article analyzes Danilo Cruz Vélez's interpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche's work, emphasizing the influence of Martin Heidegger on his reading. This study contextualizes the reception of philosophy in Colombia within a setting marked by the editorial and cultural limitations of the 20th century. Cruz Vélez explored Nietzschean concepts such as the critique of metaphysics, nihilism, and the will to power, adopting an approach so deeply influenced by Heidegger's ideas that it often bordered on a mere exercise in translation with pedagogical ambitions. According to his interpretation, Nietzsche attempted to overcome metaphysics but became trapped in a "metaphysics of subjectivity," where concepts such as eternal recurrence and the will to power reflect a cosmology centered on life and becoming. Therefore, his reading also highlights, for instance, the importance of the genealogical analysis of language and existence as tools to transcend metaphysics. Cruz Vélez identified Nietzschean nihilism as a historical process culminating in a radical critique that intertwines metaphysics and morality, resulting in an active nihilism that enables the transvaluation of traditional values. The methodology of this work draws from Pachón Soto’s social history of philosophy, which uses a methodological framework based on analyzing the historical-material conditions surrounding an author and their impact on their work. Although Cruz Vélez relied heavily on Heidegger's interpretations, his efforts contributed to the dissemination of contemporary philosophy in Colombia, facilitating what authors like Castro-Gómez describe as the appropriation of philosophy’s “technique.” His philosophical legacy demonstrates how historical and cultural constraints can become opportunities for innovation in thought, laying the foundation for a philosophical dialogue in Latin America.