Friedrich Nietzsche’s Moral Theory 1

Friedrich Nietzsche ( ) German Philosopher The Birth of Tragedy (1871) Human, Too Human (1878) Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1882-5) Beyond Good and Evil (1886) The Genealogy of Morals (1887) 2

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The Will to Power The fundamental force that motivates all action is The Will to Power 4

We all seek to: Affirm ourselves To get our own way To protect / preserve ourselves To dominate others 5

Since we are unequal in abilities (mental / physical) The most fit will survive and dominate the weaker(evolution) 6

“Exploitation does not belong to a depraved, or imperfect and primitive society: it belongs to the nature of the living being as a primary organic function; it is a consequence of the intrinsic Will to Power, which is precisely the Will to Life” (p. 132) 7

There is great beauty in the “Noble Spirit” Coming to power (Master Morality) 8

The Noble Spirit The Strongest The Strongest The Smartest The Smartest The Most Fit The Most Fit The Most Powerful The Most Powerful 9

These individuals should rule over those who are weaker These individuals should rule over those who are weaker This is Natural This is Natural 10

Master Morality The Morality of the Leaders The Morality of those who are better than the normal, average people 11

Moral Principle of Ruling Class One has duties only to one’s equals One has duties only to one’s equals They treat each other differently then they treat those under them They treat each other differently then they treat those under them It is Beyond Good and Evil It is Beyond Good and Evil 12

Master Virtues PowerStrengthDominationExploitationCreativitySpontaneityExcellence 13

Master Morality is hampered by Judeo-Christian Morality (Slave Morality) 14

Slave Morality is the invention of jealous priests Envious and resentful of the power of the strong 15

Slave Morality The morality of the normal, average people The morality of utility The origin of “good and evil” 16

Slave Virtues Human Equality MeeknessLoveForgiveness False Happiness Mediocrity 17

Slave Morality is the Ethics of Resentment Resentment and jealousy of those who are better and more gifted The Masters 18

What is Good? All that enhances the feeling of power, the Will to Power, and the power itself in man All that enhances the feeling of power, the Will to Power, and the power itself in man 19

What is Bad? All that proceeds from weakness All that proceeds from weakness 20

What is Happiness? The feelings that power is increasing – that resistance has been overcome. The feelings that power is increasing – that resistance has been overcome. 21

The First Principle of Our Humanism The weak and the failures shall perish The weak and the failures shall perish They ought even to be helped to perish They ought even to be helped to perish 22

Eugenics Selective breeding Selective breeding Control over who breeds Control over who breeds 23

What is more harmful than any vice? Practical sympathy and pity for all the failures and all the weak: Christianity Practical sympathy and pity for all the failures and all the weak: Christianity 24

Hitler and the Third Reich 25

The Death Of God Philosophy God plays no role in our culture Except as protector of the Slave Morality 26

Since there is no rational basis for belief in God There is no rational basis for the belief in Slave Morality which it produces 27

Nietzsche’s Moral Theory An example of Subjectivism The Individual decides what is right or correct behavior 28

Nietzsche Quotes Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. Great men's errors are to be venerated as more fruitful than little men's truths. Great men's errors are to be venerated as more fruitful than little men's truths. Great men's errors are to be venerated as more fruitful than little men's truths. Great men's errors are to be venerated as more fruitful than little men's truths. In heaven all the interesting people are missing. In heaven all the interesting people are missing. In heaven all the interesting people are missing. In heaven all the interesting people are missing. 29

In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross. In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross. In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross. In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross. Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. Man is the cruelest animal. Man is the cruelest animal. Man is the cruelest animal. Man is the cruelest animal. Only sick music makes money today. Only sick music makes money today. Only sick music makes money today. Only sick music makes money today. 30

The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends. The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends. The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends. The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends. In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. 31

Morality is herd instinct in the individual. Morality is herd instinct in the individual. Morality is herd instinct in the individual. Morality is herd instinct in the individual. We are always in our own company. We are always in our own company. We are always in our own company. We are always in our own company. Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger. Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger. Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger. Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger. Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's? Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's? Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's? Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's? 32