Friedrich Nietzsche had a complex and often critical view of consciousness. He saw it as a superficial aspect of human experience, arguing that much of our mental life is unconscious and that consciousness often serves more as a tool for communication and survival within society than for deeper understanding or truth. Nietzsche believed that consciousness is a product of social necessity rather than an intrinsic part of the human mind, suggesting that much of what drives human behavior is rooted in unconscious instincts and drives. He also argued that overemphasis on rationality and consciousness could suppress these deeper, more authentic aspects of human nature.