We are unknown to ourselves, we men of knowledge-and with good reason. We have never sought ourselves... (Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals, 1887: 15

NIETZSCHE “I am not a man--I am dynamite.” “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

Kierkegaard Soren Kierkegaard ( ) reaction to Hegel’s ultimate reality all reality begins and finishes with the individual moral existence involves action and choice our reality is a creative, responsible choice ultimately, all philosophy leads to a subjective, relative way of looking at things ultimately, this requires a leap of faith

Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche ( ) philologist: believed no original texts of ancient documents existed-- instead, we’ve received interpretations (perspectivism) believed that modern life rendered God irrelevant, dead modern man plagued with nihilism in a fast-paced, disruptive society

Nietzsche and Morality Nietzsche: expert on Greek tragedy, a product of two forces: –Dionysius: frenzy of passion and vital instincts –Apollo: order, restraint, form, structure –Greek civilization=product of these two beliefs in action

Nietzsche and Morality For N., 19th century = suppression of Dionysus by Apollo (Christianity) Universal morality=herd, or slave philosophy we must go beyond good and evil “Truth” is relative, language is a distortion of reality--Nietzsch

A slave philosophy? Humility Obedience Self-denial Dependence Self-abasement Slave morality = modern attitudes, as aristocrats give way to the middle class, the “bourgeois”

Two ways of looking at modern society Nietzsche Society is… Effeminate, emasculating, “wimpy” Destroys distinctions, hierarchies-makes life too easy Favor the poor and weak Socialism, Marxism, Radical Progressivism Society is…masculine, patriarchal, sexist Preserves hierarchy, unfairness, injustice Favors the rich and strong

The Will to Power There are no absolute truths All knowing is inventing--a creative act and inventing is “lying” now: you can be self-deceived about this, or “lie creatively”, force reality to your will, your creative act this is a noble “lie” because it affirms just this life Platonism and Christianity deny reality as it is, which is chaos and change; they encourage self-deception will to power= urge to freedom “live dangerously”

The word virtue in Greek (arete) and Latin has a meaning that isn't limited to morality. Any kind of strength or competency (like intelligence, wit, strength, endurance) would count as a "virtue". Moral virtues are those virtues that concern one's character, one's capacity for rational choice and action Nietzsche, on Classical Virtues Faith = unreason, dogmatism Hope = other- worldiness, denial of senses, body Love = equality, pity, rejection of distinction, hierarchy & authority Nietzsche, on Religious Virtues

The Ubermensch Ubermensch (Superman, or Post-human): rise about the herd morality, through a will to power judged by different standards Marx: future lay the “masses” Nietzsche: future lay with “super humans” modern nihilism will bring about great wars, out of which the ubermensch will emerge inspiration of National Socialism?

Religion and Ethics Three Kinds of Morality Autonomy –based on reason alone Heteronomy –morality, rules come from outside of self (belief system, religion, etc) Theonomy –morality and religion come from God, a common mystical source –-

It all comes down to this