Friedrich Friedrich NietzscheNietzscheThe Limit of ModernityThe Limit of Modernity

AphorismAphorism

Nietzsche writes his works not Nietzsche writes his works not systematically. He fights against systematically. He fights against System. So, he writes his thought in System. So, he writes his thought in aphorism. This literary form consists aphorism. This literary form consists of short paragraph that formulates of short paragraph that formulates certain idea. The collection of certain idea. The collection of aphorisms has an internal coherence, aphorisms has an internal coherence, but they are fragments that but they are fragments that represent separate ideas. represent separate ideas.

Die Geburt der Tragoedie aus Die Geburt der Tragoedie aus dem Geist der Musik (The Birth dem Geist der Musik (The Birth

of Tragedy from the Spirit of of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music)Music)

In this early work Nietzsche analyses two In this early work Nietzsche analyses two kinds of mentality that dominated Greek kinds of mentality that dominated Greek Culture:Culture:

1. Dionysian Mentality: the inclination of 1. Dionysian Mentality: the inclination of Greek culture to break any border and Greek culture to break any border and norm, and to lose self control. This mentality norm, and to lose self control. This mentality follows the basic forces of life follows the basic forces of life

2. Apollonian Mentality: reflects the 2. Apollonian Mentality: reflects the principle of individuation, self control, order, principle of individuation, self control, order, equilibrium. This mentality in the Greek equilibrium. This mentality in the Greek culture kept the balance and control over culture kept the balance and control over the Dionysian mentality.the Dionysian mentality.

Decadence in the Western Decadence in the Western CivilizationCivilization

According to Nietzsche the decadence began According to Nietzsche the decadence began when the dialecticians like Socrates, Plato when the dialecticians like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle appeared in the history of and Aristotle appeared in the history of western civilization. The spirit of dialectics western civilization. The spirit of dialectics destroyed the primordial instincts and life destroyed the primordial instincts and life forces of man and culture. Nietzsche glorifies forces of man and culture. Nietzsche glorifies the pre-Socratic thinker as “the republic of the pre-Socratic thinker as “the republic of genius” because the people like Heraclitus, genius” because the people like Heraclitus, Thales, Empedocles etc. were authentic and Thales, Empedocles etc. were authentic and creative seekers that didn’t sell their thought creative seekers that didn’t sell their thought to the universal principles. to the universal principles.

Beyond HistoryBeyond History Nietzsche differentiates three attitudes Nietzsche differentiates three attitudes

toward history:toward history: 1. “Geschichtlich” (historical): memory is 1. “Geschichtlich” (historical): memory is

needed to our survival. We need history to needed to our survival. We need history to remember the past and stabilize our identity.remember the past and stabilize our identity.

2. “Ungeschichtlich” (unhistorical): But if it is 2. “Ungeschichtlich” (unhistorical): But if it is necessary, we must be able to forget the past necessary, we must be able to forget the past for our happiness. for our happiness.

3. “Uebergeschichtlich” (super-historical): the 3. “Uebergeschichtlich” (super-historical): the past can teach us the meaning of the future past can teach us the meaning of the future and anticipate the future.and anticipate the future.

This view is then adopted by the hermeneutic This view is then adopted by the hermeneutic

Critique on DemocracyCritique on Democracy

Democracy, socialism and nationalism are Democracy, socialism and nationalism are the spirit of mediocrity. They are the the spirit of mediocrity. They are the enemies of the vital forces and enemies of the vital forces and authenticity of the individual. The authenticity of the individual. The rationalization in the western civilization is rationalization in the western civilization is the permanent destruction. So, democracy the permanent destruction. So, democracy is a manifestation of decadence in the is a manifestation of decadence in the western culture. western culture.

After Plato Nietzsche is the sharp critic of After Plato Nietzsche is the sharp critic of democracy.democracy.

Genealogy of Morality Genealogy of Morality

For Nietzsche morality reflects the For Nietzsche morality reflects the emotions that is hidden behind the emotions that is hidden behind the rationality. The claim of justice, for rationality. The claim of justice, for example, is nothing but a cry of example, is nothing but a cry of ‘ressentiment’. Morality and objectivity is ‘ressentiment’. Morality and objectivity is the mask of affection. So, we can trace the the mask of affection. So, we can trace the moral claims like a genealogy and find the moral claims like a genealogy and find the interests behind them. The philosophical interests behind them. The philosophical systems are nothing but the confessions of systems are nothing but the confessions of the philosophers on their own life.the philosophers on their own life.

Herren- and HerdenmoralHerren- and Herdenmoral

In his work Jenseits vom Guten und Boesen In his work Jenseits vom Guten und Boesen Nietzsche tells us about two kinds of people and Nietzsche tells us about two kinds of people and two kinds of morality, i.e. the class of masters two kinds of morality, i.e. the class of masters and slaves. and slaves.

Master morality: don’t show what ought to be Master morality: don’t show what ought to be done, but what is really done. It is the expression done, but what is really done. It is the expression of self esteem, and not the universal principles. of self esteem, and not the universal principles. The main categories are not ‘bad and good’, but The main categories are not ‘bad and good’, but ‘high and low’. ‘high and low’.

Crowd morality: Good doesn’t mean ‘strong’, but Crowd morality: Good doesn’t mean ‘strong’, but ‘tenderness’, ‘mercy’, ‘sympathy’ , ‘humility’. This ‘tenderness’, ‘mercy’, ‘sympathy’ , ‘humility’. This morality is reactive and has its resource in the morality is reactive and has its resource in the fear of the master. fear of the master.

Umwertung aller Werte Umwertung aller Werte (Transvaluation of all values) (Transvaluation of all values)

In Genealogie der Moral Nietzsche In Genealogie der Moral Nietzsche describes how the transvaluation of values describes how the transvaluation of values happens in the Christianity. The slave class happens in the Christianity. The slave class cannot revenge actually the power of the cannot revenge actually the power of the master. Also, they revenge it in the form of master. Also, they revenge it in the form of imagination. There is moral revolution imagination. There is moral revolution against the class of masters. What was against the class of masters. What was formerly ‘strong’ and ‘high’ now becomes formerly ‘strong’ and ‘high’ now becomes ‘bad’ and ‘evil’. What is now good is ‘bad’ and ‘evil’. What is now good is ‘humility’, ‘love’ and ‘sympathy’. But this ‘humility’, ‘love’ and ‘sympathy’. But this transvaluation is nothing but ressentiment. transvaluation is nothing but ressentiment. Nietzsche says that with this transvaluation Nietzsche says that with this transvaluation the conscience (Gewissen) is invented. the conscience (Gewissen) is invented.

Der Wille zur MachtDer Wille zur Macht The world and we are according to Nietzsche The world and we are according to Nietzsche

the will to power (der Wille zur Macht). the will to power (der Wille zur Macht). Contrary to Schopenhauer Nietzsche doesn’t Contrary to Schopenhauer Nietzsche doesn’t accept the Kantian distinction between accept the Kantian distinction between phenomenal and noumenal world. The will to phenomenal and noumenal world. The will to power is all pervasive and heterogeneous power is all pervasive and heterogeneous life-forces that express in our psychical life-forces that express in our psychical moods, physiological metabolism, chemical moods, physiological metabolism, chemical reaction, physical movement, our thought, reaction, physical movement, our thought, …It is the process of becoming of all thing …It is the process of becoming of all thing (Werden). (Werden).

Knowledge transforms Becoming into Being. Knowledge transforms Becoming into Being. Therefore knowledge is power. Therefore knowledge is power.

PerspectivismPerspectivism

According to Nietzsche there is no According to Nietzsche there is no absolute truth. The truth depends on absolute truth. The truth depends on our interpretations. And our our interpretations. And our interpretation depends on our interpretation depends on our standpoint. The idea of absolute standpoint. The idea of absolute truth is a fiction that relates to the truth is a fiction that relates to the will to power. Also, there is no single will to power. Also, there is no single truth, but many truths that depend truth, but many truths that depend on our perspective to see them. on our perspective to see them.

Uebermensch [Overman]Uebermensch [Overman]

In his book Also sprach Zarathustra, In his book Also sprach Zarathustra, Nietzsche says that the overman is the Nietzsche says that the overman is the future species of human being. The future species of human being. The difference between man and overman is difference between man and overman is like the difference between man and ape. like the difference between man and ape.

Overman is an authentic self that says yes Overman is an authentic self that says yes to this world with its tragic or happy sides, to this world with its tragic or happy sides, dark and light moments. dark and light moments.

The purpose of civilization is not humanity, The purpose of civilization is not humanity, but overman or authentic individual that but overman or authentic individual that creates his own values. He is a creates his own values. He is a combination of Caesar and Christ in one combination of Caesar and Christ in one person. person.

The Eternal Recurrence of All The Eternal Recurrence of All thingthing

Following the first Greek Following the first Greek philosophers Nietzsche believes that philosophers Nietzsche believes that our life is an eternal recurrence. We’ll our life is an eternal recurrence. We’ll experience this life with all its tragic experience this life with all its tragic or happy side precisely again and or happy side precisely again and again.again.

This doctrine refuses the idea of This doctrine refuses the idea of transcendence in all form. If our life transcendence in all form. If our life is an eternal recurrence, there is no is an eternal recurrence, there is no other life outside this worldly life. other life outside this worldly life.

God is Dead - NihilismGod is Dead - Nihilism

If God is dead, then the wide horizon of life If God is dead, then the wide horizon of life is open to us. We can create our own is open to us. We can create our own values. But the death of God results values. But the death of God results nihilism, i.e. the values emptiness. The nihilism, i.e. the values emptiness. The human being experience lost of orientation. human being experience lost of orientation.

There are two kinds of nihilism: active and There are two kinds of nihilism: active and passive. The active nihilism longs for the passive. The active nihilism longs for the return of the morality and values. But the return of the morality and values. But the active nihilism accepts the value vacuum as active nihilism accepts the value vacuum as a form of emancipation. a form of emancipation.