Nietzsche’s Three Transformations: From Duty to Will
Nietzsche’s Concept of Freedom and Will
In Nietzsche’s philosophy, the concept of free will takes on a new, vital meaning. It is not merely the ability to choose, but the capacity for self-creation in each action. Freedom becomes a core value, leading Nietzsche to advocate for eliminating all limits to this concept.
The “You” of External Moral Authority
The term “You” represents external moral authority imposed upon individuals. Whether from religion, morality, or politics, individuals often face external constraints, burdening them with responsibilities not always desired. Duty, therefore, becomes negative, stifling life.
The “I Am” of the Dragon
In this context, the dragon symbolizes external authority. When it claims to represent all values, it signifies that the subject cannot see beyond these external standards. These external entities are given moral legitimacy, imposing their will.
The “I” of Human Will
“I” is the simplest expression of human will. This will encompasses emotions, feelings, and passions—that which reason denies—and thus becomes the great enemy of duty.
New Values for the Superman
New values are the moral principles that must pave the way for the Superman, reversing the prevailing Judeo-Christian morality of the West. Nietzsche opposes all theological-rational values developed in Western civilization, championing life and will as the only viable alternatives to escape decline.
Commentary on “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”
Friedrich Nietzsche, a pivotal 19th-century German philosopher, is a father of irrationalism and vitalism. Known for his intellectual prowess, he worked as a philologist at the University of Basel, though his genius also attracted envy. Nietzsche’s philosophy, marked by a rejection from the academic world and a debilitating illness, can be summarized as a critique of everything, especially the values of Western civilization.
Nietzsche’s central thesis is that life prevails over reason and thought. This is evident in his work Thus Spoke Zarathustra, where the prophet Zoroaster embodies the message of a religion with no god but man transformed into Superman—beyond any rational, moral, or philosophical limit. The death of God is the negative image of Nietzsche’s Superman, developed throughout the work, which uses aphorisms and symbolic language to break from rational discourse.
Zarathustra’s preaching seeks to reverse Western moral and cultural values, both in content and form. Nietzsche’s book, in a sense, challenges the traditional concept of a philosophical essay. The fragment in question is a famous passage where Nietzsche, through Zarathustra, describes the moral evolution of man in what he calls the three transformations:
- The first stage, where man is purely obedient to external authority.
- The second stage, where rationality is sought in the origin and foundation of moral behavior (as described in the text).
- The third stage, where the spirit can create value by itself.
Nietzsche’s valuation of the second spirit, embodied by the lion, is not entirely negative, as it opens the space of freedom necessary for the arrival of the Superman. This text addresses the question: What have been the main patterns of human behavior on moral grounds? The excerpt highlights two: blind obedience and the pursuit of free action based on reason.