Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Rethinking Morality and Values
1. Revaluation of Values
Nietzsche’s concept of the revaluation of all values has two meanings. Firstly, it refers to the slave revolt in morality, where Christianity inverted the heroic moral values of the aristocracy. What was once considered noble became negative, and vice-versa. Secondly, it represents Nietzsche’s positive proposal to regenerate Western culture: a reversal of Christian values, an attempt to restore the moral ideals of the aristocracy, and a move beyond conventional notions of good and evil.
The Übermensch (Superman) embodies this revaluation. The Superman does not believe in a metaphysical purpose in the world and becomes possible only after the “death of God.” The Superman exercises their will to power, choosing the means and values to ensure self-overcoming. Since values are means, not ends, the ultimate end is the will to power itself. Western culture, according to Nietzsche, is ripe for this revaluation of Christian values, ready to embrace the moral heights of figures like the Homeric heroes.
2. Nihilism
Nihilism, for Nietzsche, is the condition where individuals lack guiding values. It takes two forms: wanting nothing and not wanting. Wanting nothing is the Christian form of nihilism, elevating values antithetical to life. Not wanting is the pessimism of naturalistic morality, obsessed with avoiding suffering and disillusioned by the fleeting nature of happiness.
Nietzsche argues that nihilists are those who, having believed in a worldly purpose, lose that conviction. Passive nihilism involves the apprehensive acceptance of valuelessness, an inability to affirm or deny. Active nihilism, like a lion, destroys all transcendent values but cannot create new meaning.
3. The Future of Western Civilization
Nietzsche saw the future of Western civilization as lacking purpose and direction, a symptom of societal progress and the unconsciousness of life. He believed that existing morals and ethics were inadequate for this new world, necessitating the emergence of the Superman.
The will to power is the common denominator between this future and Nietzsche’s philosophy. The increasing focus on rationality and utility in production and societal progress fuels a desire for power that transcends human limitations. This connects to the concept of eternal return, where the cycle of life, will to power, and Western culture’s focus on progress and rationalization repeats constantly.
4. Christianity and Socrates
Nietzsche viewed Christianity as a decadent doctrine that rejects the struggle of life, leading to weakness and emphasizing guilt, evil, and sin as tools of subjugation. He also criticized Socrates for promoting a false heroism that masked the decline of natural human values.
5. Nietzsche’s Ethics
Nietzsche’s approach to ethics encompasses meta-ethics, normative ethics, and descriptive ethics. As a moral skeptic, he considered ethical statements false, lacking correspondence with reality. He believed that all statements, including moral ones, are interpretations of an ultimately uninterpretable reality. Falsehood, for Nietzsche, is often essential for life.
Nietzsche’s moral views can be understood without assuming their truth. He distinguished between master morality and slave morality. While pure examples are rare, he saw these moralities in constant tension throughout history. Master morality values “good” and “bad,” while slave morality values “good” and “evil.” Master morality is the morality of the aristocracy, while slave morality is the morality of the oppressed and resentful. Master morality determines values independently of external foundations, while slave morality bases values on pre-determined, unchallenged foundations (like Christianity).
These ideas are elaborated in On the Genealogy of Morals, which introduces the concept of ressentiment as the basis of slave morality. Nietzsche’s famous “God is dead” statement, often attributed to a madman in The Gay Science and later spoken by Zarathustra, is not a joyful declaration but a tragic lament. It observes the decline of religious belief and its implications for morality, potentially leading to nihilism and moral relativism. Nietzsche advocated for reassessing the foundations of morality to understand its origins and motives, allowing individuals to determine the true value of morality.