...Nietzsche critique on Christianity Nietzsche speaks immensely upon the idea of God/super natural being. At the time of Nietzsche's writings Christianity was widely practiced in Eastern Europe. Hence it was the main religion practiced by those reading who were reading Nietzsche. Before we can approach his critique of Christianity we need to understand the man himself a little. Nietzsche was born into a family who was extremely Christian, his uncle and grandfather were both Lutheran ministers and a majority of his family were devoted Christians. At a young age Nietzsche was exposed to life's greatest tragedy, his father died from a brain ailment and shortly after his younger brother passed away too. Fast-forward a little Nietzsche enters the University of Bonn as a theology and philology student. He later leans towards the study of philology, as his academic study progresses; this would later be the main tool for him as he uses it in his interpretation of the biblical text. Now that we have a better understanding of some of the more important events in Nietzsche life we can start evaluating his criticism on Christianity and God. One of the most famous quotes from Nietzsche's “God is dead”. Nietzsche states that there is no need for God in the world that we live in; God is not relevant anymore to anyone. For Nietzsche there is no need for a God, and while he understands the draw to the wanting of a God and an afterlife Nietzsche forces us to question everything we hold...
Words: 1614 - Pages: 7
...November 2016 Nietzsche Numerous philosophers take a stance on the way we should dissect morals; what is good and bad, what is right and wrong. Friedrich Nietzsche believes that we should take a genealogical approach to study morality, tracing lines of development. We need to incorporate history, philosophy, psychology, and classical philology into the study of morals. Nietzsche had become fascinated by the origin of behavior (ethics) from a young age; “In fact, the problem of the origin of evil pursued me even as a boy of thirteen,” (16). He took his passion and developed his belief in how morality can be understood. In his preface of The Genealogy of Morals, he outlines that in the analysis of morality we...
Words: 675 - Pages: 3
...Nicholas Hamilton Rhetoric 20 Amy J. February 17, 2015 The Irony in Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche writes in his essay “On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense” about the understandings of knowledge, truth, and morality. Interestingly the translation of the original title for Nietzsche’s work might have been “On Truth and Lie in the Extramoral Sense.” This is interesting because the translated version that is given for readers is “Nonmoral”; however another possible translation could have been “Extramoral” which shows that his writing may either be something not consistent with morality, but it may also be overly moral as well. Kenneth Burke writes in his work “Four Master Tropes”, about the tropes of metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony. He provides numerous definitions of irony as well as the three temptations of irony. Nietzsche’s writing and ideas about “truth and lies” are “ironic” based on the definition and examples Burke uses as well as the standard dictionary definition of irony. This irony accomplishes incongruity with what appears to be truth and lies and what it actually is; since there is no concrete truth, this is ironic in itself. Individuals often confuse and misuse the term ironic, but Kenneth Burke gives his opinion of what irony is. He says, “Irony arises when one tries, by the interaction of terms upon one another, to produce a development which uses all the terms…they are all voices, personalities, or positions, integrally affecting one another” (432)....
Words: 2057 - Pages: 9
... Philosophers have looked to offer insight and understanding to the idea of a higher power, aiming to try to grasp its complex nature. Friedrich Nietzsche a 19th century philosopher takes a different approach to the idea of religion in his literary narrative “The Gay Science”. In this narrative Nietzsche makes the bold statement that “God is Dead” (Nietzsche 95), claiming that we are responsible. This is rather extreme statement in any context, however considering the time period in which he was writing, a time where...
Words: 1442 - Pages: 6
...Friedrich Nietzsche conveys his view on freedom in short, provocative statements dispersed throughout his writings. In this essay, I will discuss Nietzsche’s conception of freedom as presented in two of his works: The Genealogy of Morals and The Gay Science. To begin, in Section 12 from The Genealogy of Morals, Nietzsche introduces to us the term, “will to power” (GM, pg 78) with which he uses synonymously with the term, “instinct for freedom” in latter sections of the essay. Although Nietzsche never clearly defines what he means when he says, “will to power,” he provides the reader a depiction of this concept through the origin of punishment. According to Nietzsche, the concept of punishment contains an aspect that is enduring and an aspect that is fluid (GM, pg 79). In other words, the act of punishing remains the same, but the meaning of the act changes radically over time. For example, while the barbarians of ancient time may have used punishment as a “festival, namely as the rape and mockery of a finally defeated enemy,” modern morality uses punishment as “a means of rendering harmless, or preventing further harm” or even “as the isolation of a disturbance of equilibrium (GM, pg 80). Thus, Nietzsche shows that the significance of punishment is not the act itself, but the meaning that we attach to it. Because the meaning of punishment is independent of the act itself, we can essentially understand...
Words: 2467 - Pages: 10
...Kierkegaard vs. Nietzsche Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche are known to be two of the greatest nineteenth century existentialists of all time. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe. It regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts. Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche both felt that life is irrational. They were problem thinkers who chose not to follow the systematic approach to philosophy as their predecessors did. In this regard, they stood on common ground. Both realized that no system of philosophy operates in isolation of its creators inherent prejudices. Any subjective viewpoint is biased; therefore, objectivity is impossible in any moral example. They both recognized that God no longer exists in religion in present-day expression. Men and women go about their daily lives in a manner irreverent of the possibility that there is an all-powerful God governing their affairs. Surprisingly, they proclaim their devotion to God when questioned about it. However, in their attempts to resolve this moral affliction Nietzsche and Kierkegaard are different in their quest for a cure. The very foundations of their moral constitutions were built upon conflicting ideologies: Kierkegaard put his in Christianity, while Nietzsche’s in individualism and self-determination. Kierkegaard...
Words: 2004 - Pages: 9
...Him? An Argument in Defense of Nietzsche's “Madman.” “Incipit tragoedia,” Nietzsche exclaims at the closing of The Gay Science, but what stands before this tragedy? What has happened to usher in such a fatal turn to the “goat song”? The answer lies in Nietzsche's claim that, “God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him!” (Nietzsche 141-142). There can be little argument that these enraged words of Nietzsche are reveled by atheists and agnostic alike. On the other hand, theists acquainted with his writings revile them. Are there grounds to be correspondingly joyous and offended? Does the announcement carry any concern? Can the proclamation carry both joy and offense? What if the passage is being taken too literally? This is what needs to be investigated! The real question then is what exactly Nietzsche means when he asserts, “God is Dead...And we have killed him!” (Nietzsche 141-142). In order to answer these questions, I intend to argue, through a critical exposition of Nietzsche’s claim, that God - that is the “cause” of Him - although not completely...
Words: 1661 - Pages: 7
...Mill’s ethic is based upon the principle of utility which states that one should always perform the act that will bring us the most happiness while also taking into consideration the consequences the decision might cause. Mill uses the overall happiness principle to measure the overall happiness of those affected by the decision. The decision is considered correct if the overall happiness principle if fulfilled or wrong in the principle is not fulfilled. I believe that Nietzsche would not approve of Mill’s ethics and instead would criticize him and his principle of utility based on the fact that Nietzsche believes that pleasure and happiness are profound stimuli that not everyone is allowed to seek, as Mill would argue. To further explain...
Words: 1184 - Pages: 5
...Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher who was born in the Prussian city of Rocken. He was the son of a clergyman and became influenced by the ancient Greco-Roman civilization and the principle of “survival of the fittest.” He also strongly believed that those who do not deserve to live should perish. He attended the University of Bonn and Leipzig. There he found his new philosophical learning to be extremely meaningful and interesting. At the Age of 24, Nietzsche became a professor at the University of Basel in Switzerland. Nietzsche, later in life, emphasized the idea of “transvaluation of values”. By emphasizes this idea, Nietzsche tried to make people look beyond the traditional values and undergo the transformation that was vital in obtaining new and true values. Nietzsche also understood that there were two types of morality that existed in society. The two types of morality that Nietzsche emphasized are called master-morality and slave-morality. Master-morality is when the master is the judge and creator of all values. This is what determines the values and dominates strength. On page 214 in Great Traditions in Ethics by Theodore C. Denise, Nicholas P. White, and Sheldon P. Peterfreund Nietzsche states, “He honors whatever he recognizes in himself: such morality is self-glorification. There is a feeling of plentitude, of power, which seeks to overflow, the happiness of high tension, the consciousness of a wealth which would fain give and bestow.” In other words...
Words: 933 - Pages: 4
...Friedrich Nietzsche is one of the most well-known German philosophers and influential thinkers of the 19th century. He is considered one of the first existentialist philosophers and his work influenced many future philosophers. He undoubtedly had an impact on 19th century philosophy and that impact continues on even today. However, most of Nietzsche’s views went against the popular and conventional beliefs of his time. His ideas challenged Christianity, contemporary German culture and traditional morality, which as a result, created a great deal of controversy. Nietzsche is also one of the most misunderstood philosophers and his work is often misconstrued, never more than with the Nazis. The Nazis claimed that Nietzsche was one of their biggest inspirations. They had an attraction to Nietzsche's ideas, such as his attacks against Democracy, Christianity, and Parliamentary Governments. They took a lot their like-mindedness towards Nietzsche from his work The Will to Power. The controversy comes from whether or not this was Nietzsche’s intention or if his work was taken out of context by the Nazis for their own interpretation. Although Nietzsche may have had a similar attitude towards concepts such as religion, the will to power, and the idea of an Übermensch (Superhuman) that the Nazis coincided with, his work was not intended to be used in reference to, or in support of, Nazism and/or Fascism. The Nazis misused Nietzsche's philosophy, misinterpreted his views and distorted...
Words: 2428 - Pages: 10
...Existentialism and Human Emotions.) You should frame your essay around a particular philosophical claim or theme which you would like to write about in Sartre’s essay. For example: 1. How does Sartre argue that “existentialism is a humanism” and is his argument a good one? 2. What is Sartre’s notion of freedom and how does it relate to ethics? Is this a viable ethics? 3. Explain and evaluate the claim that “existence precedes essence.” What are the implications for living if one accepts this claim? Defend or consider problems with this position. 4. What does Sartre mean when he says that “man is condemned to be free” but also that we are nonetheless responsible for who or what we become? In what way are we free, in which ways are we responsible, and to whom are we responsible? Is Sartre right? If so, why? If not, why not? 5. Drawing on the entirety of the essay, develop an account of what Sartre thinks the human is (in his language “man” or the “subject.”) Once you have articulated what man is for Sartre, critically evaluate this account. What are the strengths with Sartre’s version of what a human is—what, if any, are the weaknesses or blind spots in such an account? Nietzsche...
Words: 1163 - Pages: 5
...I. Purpose Nietzsche tends to be, by his own statements, the least understood and most brilliant of philosophers. While reading portions of any philosopher is dangerous, this is particularly the case with Nietzsche because of his association with the Nazi Party in the 1930’s and 40’s. Again, by his explanation, his whole philosophy is captured in Thus Spoke Zarathustra; however, he wrote that no one understood that properly upon its publication so he followed up with some explanation. The explanation came in the work Beyond Good and Evil and the work we are reading, On the Genealogy of Morals. The latter work is the one most structured like the philosophic thought of the enlightenment – more treatise-like. So, hopefully we shall be able to uncover a little Nietzsche without drifting into the abyss. This essay, like the last two, is designed to focus you on a single question regarding Nietzsche’s thoughts in On The Genealogy of Morals. You are to explore to a deeper level any question that is raised for you by the work, using Nietzsche’s work. In other words, no external “research” is expected, but if it will help your exploration, it is allowed. I would add a caution that this is least likely to help on Nietzsche because of the plethora of extremely bad Nietzsche interpretations floating in the cloud. As with both the Machiavelli and Rousseau essay, it is important to note that this is NOT a summary and it is NOT a review. Nietzsche repeated in your own words or a book review...
Words: 923 - Pages: 4
...Taylor Dordick Philosophy 320.19 December 11, 2013 Final Question 3 Friedrich Nietzsche and Hannah Arendt both wrote extensively about the foundations of moral philosophy and the formation of the ethical self. Nietzsche, in “On the Genealogy of Morals”, centers his own moral philosophy on the concept of a supra moral individual, which he specifically defines in terms of someone who is effectively free and sovereign, not bound by the bourgeois “morality of custom”. Defined as acting autonomously, capable of “measuring value” and being “entitled to make promises”, such an individual gains the cherished freedom of “responsibility” which is ultimately internalized as “conscience”. Arendt, in “Responsibility and Judgment”, focuses on the notion of a moral individual who is in “harmony” with his or herself, a state of mind that is gained from independently considering and arriving at fundamental moral guidelines. Like Nietzsche, Arendt asserts that moral beliefs and decisions must stem from this sense of internal harmony and justice, as opposed to simple obedience to demands imposed from outside. However, Arendt anchors her own portrayal of moral autonomy in more Kantian terms of a categorical imperative and ultimately a sense of dignity and self respect that derives from acting with conscience. Nietzsche begins his second essay titled “‘Guilt’, ‘Bad Conscience’, and Related Matters”, with a mixture of observation and sarcastic wit, “The breeding of an animal which is entitled to...
Words: 1334 - Pages: 6
...punishment and what role it serves. Do you agree or disagree with its analysis. We are generally tempted to see things as having inherent meanings. For instance, punishment is at once the act of punishing and the reason behind the punishment. However, Nietzsche argues, these things have had different meanings at different times. For instance, the act of punishment has been at times a celebration of one's power, at times an act of cruelty, at times a simple tit-for-tat. We cannot understand a thing, and we certainly cannot understand its origin, if we assume that it has always held the same meaning. Punishment was not meted out on the basis of guilt, but simply as a reprisal. The concept of punishment, for instance, has an aspect that is enduring and an aspect that is fluid. Contrary to what we might otherwise assume, Nietzsche suggests that the act of punishing is what endures, and the purpose for which we punish is what is fluid. Punishment has such a long history that it's no longer clear exactly why we punish. Nietzsche provides a long list of different "meanings" that punishment has had over the ages. In this list, Nietzsche nowhere mentions the development of "bad conscience," and suggests that even today, punishment does not awaken a feeling of guilt. Punishment arouses the sense of "something has gone unexpectedly wrong" not of "I should not have done that." Punishment is treated as a misfortune, and serves to make us more prudent and tame. Nietzsche spells this point...
Words: 614 - Pages: 3
...Daybreak and The Gay Science Nietzsche, in both Daybreak and The Gay Science, seems to be interested in the examination of society. Society is a very vague notion; in an attempt to define, or at least reduce the area of examination, I will make the claim Nietzsche is particularly interested in the evolution of morals, customs and cultures, and the “purpose” of advancing and preserving the human race. Even more specifically, Nietzsche is examining the way in which the evolution of these different concepts has unintentionally affected the progression of the human race as a whole. Nietzsche accuses religion, Christianity in particular, of creating a sense of pride in suffering. “Cruelty is one of the oldest festive joys of mankind. Consequently it is imagined that the gods to are refreshed and in festive mood when they are offered the spectacle of cruelty – and thus there creeps into the world the idea that voluntary suffering, self-chosen torture, is meaningful and valuable.”[1] The story of Job from the Bible is a great example of how religion has helped to ingrain this notion in the human experience. This idea that suffering, and voluntary suffering at that, is a necessary part of the moral human experience is sick. Nietzsche goes onto state that once this sort of notion or custom, any custom for that matter, is accepted and followed by members of a society it tends to be passed on to the next generation; this new generation typically accepts the custom without questioning...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
