Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals: Rethinking Good and Evil
Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals
Rethinking Good and Evil
In On the Genealogy of Morality, Nietzsche discusses the moral imperative in our society. He analyzes the original meaning of the terms “good” and “evil,” arguing that societal shifts have disrupted traditional values. The original aristocratic values of “good” have become synonymous with weakness. Nietzsche attributes this shift to the priestly caste, who, he claims, renounced the body and spread the ideals of charity and humility.
The Imposition of Slave Morality
Nietzsche posits that the Judeo-Christian tradition imposed a slave morality dominated by meekness and cowardice, leading to resentment and the denial of direct confrontation in favor of future punishment. He argues that the Enlightenment perpetuated this with its emphasis on duty and democracy, viewing democracy as a burden imposed by the weak majority against the exceptional.
Critique of Marxism and German Society
Nietzsche criticizes Marxism’s aim to empower the masses, asserting that power should reside with exceptional individuals, not the “slaves.” He also critiques the German society of his time, particularly Hegel’s idealism, where the state is presented as the culmination of human ethics. Nietzsche sees this as a denial of life and an attempt to homogenize the individual.
The Death of God and the Rise of Nihilism
God as the Ultimate Expression of Nihilism
Nietzsche views “God” as the ultimate expression of nihilism, representing the peak of contempt for earthly matters. He argues that Western history has declined because true, life-affirming values have been replaced by transcendent ones, with the idea of God as the ultimate example.
The Enlightenment and Atheism
The Enlightenment’s atheism, according to Nietzsche, left humanity without a sense of purpose. The death of God represents the culmination of nihilism, where life loses meaning and values associated with God become ineffective.
The Potential for New Values and the Superman
However, Nietzsche sees this as a positive turning point, allowing for the creation of new values. He advocates not for replacing God with the state or democracy, but for embracing the “Superman,” the individual who continuously creates and recreates values, effectively becoming their own god.
Eternal Return
With the death of God comes the end of hope for eternal life, leaving only the present moment. Nietzsche introduces the concept of eternal return, the eternal repetition of the moment. This idea is embraced by the free individual who imbues each moment with the weight of eternity, giving the present the significance of the afterlife.
Knowledge and Perspective in Nietzsche’s Philosophy
A Vital and Critical Perspective on Knowledge
Nietzsche’s philosophy is vital and critical of how Western culture has denied life. He argues that the conceptualization of reality has been a mistake, freezing life’s inherent dynamism. Life is constantly changing, but human nature has been structured by creating metaphors that are perceived as more real than reality itself.
Truth and Lies
In On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense, Nietzsche suggests that truth is a human invention for survival. Western culture, however, has forgotten this and made the concept real, neglecting the individual.
Perspectivism and Intuition
Nietzsche advocates for perspectivism, arguing that truth is not objective but depends on individual viewpoints. True knowledge, he claims, is not objective but intuitive. He distinguishes between the rational, scientific individual (who acts according to accepted concepts) and the intuitive individual or artist (who operates with insights and dismantles concepts). Intuition, for Nietzsche, is superior to concepts.
The Social Construction of Truth
Truth, according to Nietzsche, is linked to social interest: application leads to habit, which becomes the norm. The original “lie” is forgotten, and a universe is built to justify a particular morality. Language reflects this process, leading Nietzsche to use the original meaning of words as a method of philosophical inquiry.
Critique of Science and Philosophy
Nietzsche criticizes science and philosophy, arguing that true reality is inaccessible and incomprehensible. While acknowledging the rigor of science in discovering natural laws, he views science as just one interpretation of reality. The error of science and philosophy, he claims, is the belief in an inherent order in life, when it is humanity that invents this order.
The Human Being and the Will to Power
The Will to Power
Nietzsche views the human being as a natural being driven by the will to power, the desire to be as much as possible. As a human, the individual aspires to live fully and create. The will to power encompasses the forces of nature, acting in violence and contradiction, a concept influenced by Schopenhauer.
The Apollonian and Dionysian
However, Nietzsche argues that humanity has denied its vital aspects. He distinguishes between the Apollonian (order and measure) and the Dionysian (intuition), suggesting that humanity has favored the Apollonian. Now, reason has destroyed the idea of God, leading to nihilism and a lack of meaning. Humanity has shifted its focus from reality to inventions. As these inventions crumble, Nietzsche believes we must reclaim the values of life.
The Three Metamorphoses
In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche illustrates the three stages of human development: the camel (burdened by “I ought”), the lion (challenging tradition and duty), and the child (creating new values from oblivion).
From Resentment to the Superman
Nietzsche argues that humanity lives in resentment, burdened by guilt imposed by a mediocre morality that prevents authenticity. Therefore, after the death of God, humanity must evolve into the Superman.