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by wickedwillie on January 5th, 2004

wickedwillie

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What were the core beliefs of Friedrich Nietzsche?

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  • by Scoundral on January 17th, 2006

    Scoundral

    Nietzsche's beliefs are based on the writings of Schopenhaeur (who is most likely based upon Kant, so on, so forth, back to eastern philosophy) that the driving force of the universe is greed. Most philosophies teach us that the highest value is morality, or resisting our greed, and helping others. Nietzsche was radical in that he stood firmly against everything we've been taught and opposed morality. In short, Nietzsche taught us that 'evil' is not a bad thing. Agree or disagree, everyone should hear the other side of the story.

    Society places a high value upon being brave, honest, compassionate, and giving. But what do any of these values benefit the individual? Society is formed by the herd mentality, that sustaining the whole is more important than the advancement of the individual. We are quick to give to the poor and tend to the weak, but we never once reward those who are strong. In fact, if anything the strong have to defend themself against the weak, and live apologetic that we are fortunate.

    The herd wants the individual to help the herd, but Nietzsche teaches the individual thinker to help himself and become stronger by cowardice (the hardest of his anti-values to accept), deception, selfishness, and greed. Nietzsche states that the shepherd must be opposite the herd in order to rule, but he does not want all of the world's sheep to become shepherds. The herd is important but the purpose of the universe is to produce great men, hopefully a "superman" who's complete lack of morals will make him the supreme ruler- so high above the others that he looks upon them the way we might look upon an ape, amusing and pathetic.

    Had we not been so programmed to fear this "evil", Nietzsche's thinking may have a greater impact, but he was constantly fighting a losing battle to challenge Apollonian thinking with his Dionysian views. The world is swayed too far in one direction, but if only a few are open minded enough to listen to the two sides of the story, we may reach a new enlightenment.

    Nietzsche's beliefs were Nihilist in nature, and based on Darwinian thinking that the strongest survive (although he personally admitted that Darwinism fails in humans, who constantly save the weak and leave the strong to fend for themselves).

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    • Good answer; although, I disagree with N's beliefs.

      Answers101

      by Answers101 on March 19th, 2006

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