Nietzsche Flashcards
The herd instinct of obedience has been inherited best and at the expense of the art of commanding
P1: In as much as there has always been human beings, there have also been human herds.
P2: There are always more who obey compared with those who command.
P3: Nothing has been practised and cultivated among men better or longer than obedience.
P4: (Minor c): It is fair to suppose as a rule a need for it (obedience) is now innate.
P5: The need seeks satisfaction in the form of commanders (parent, teacher, law etc).
C: The herd instinct of obedience has been inherited best and at the expense of the art of commanding.
The herd instinct of obedience has been inherited best and at the xpense of the art of commanding EVAL
Yes, the act of self-commanding has been lost under herd morality.
To have a human herd is to not need commanders, for everyone is on the same page.
Commanders practice moral hypocracy
P1: The need for obedience is innate (engrained in our conscience) in contrast to the need for command.
P2: For a man to command, he would have to practice a deceit upon himself (by posing as an executor of a higher command) in order to appease his own conscience.
C: Commanders practice moral hypocrisy.
Commanders pratise moral hypocrisy EVAL
Not all commanders. Some are genuine psychological altruists who can justify their decisions without appealing to a higher power.
The highest form of happiness is not possible when preacitising the virtues espoused by the herd man
P1: The herd man makes himself out to be the only permissible kind of man.
P2: He glorifies the qualities through which he is tame, peaceful and useful to the herd as ‘real virtues’ (public spirit, benevolence..pity etc).
P3: The only release from this ‘intolerable burden’ is an unconditional commander (example: Napoleon) as he represents a ‘higher happiness’.
C (Implied) The ‘highest’ form of happiness is not possible when practising the virtues espoused by the ‘herd man’. Therefore, egalitarian or democratic values are antithetical to our living the Good life.
The highest form of happiness is not possible when practising the virtues espoused by the herd man EVAL
An unconditional commander is dangerous, especially in the wake of the 20th century.
It is not a coincidence that the strongest states are those who practice these virtuous.
Egalitarian or democratic values are antithetical to our living the good life
P1: The herd man makes himself out to be the only permissible kind of man.
P2: He glorifies the qualities through which he is tame, peaceful and useful to the herd as ‘real virtues’ (public spirit, benevolence..pity etc).
P3: The only release from this ‘intolerable burden’ is an unconditional commander (example: Napoleon) as he represents a ‘higher happiness’.
C (Implied) The ‘highest’ form of happiness is not possible when practising the virtues espoused by the ‘herd man’. Therefore, egalitarian or democratic values are antithetical to our living the Good life.
Egailatarian or democratic values are antithetical to our living the good life EVAL
The strongest states are those that practice these values. We have more freedom because of them.
Fear is the mother of herd morality and it relies on it to survive
P1: The utility which dominates moral value judgments is that which is useful to the herd.
P2: The immoral is that which seems to imperil the existence of the community.
P3: Under these conditions, drives that were once considered valuable, useful and laudable (revenge, rapacity, ambition) are suddenly considered immoral.
P4: In contrast, the qualities of the herd (represented by the lamb) are esteemed.
C: Fear is thus the mother of herd morality, and relies on it to survive.
Fear is the mother of herd morality and it relies on it to survive EVAL
Seems true, although not all societies fear revenge, rapacity, ambition.
Democracy is a symptom of the degeneration of man
Democracy is the form assumed by man in decay. The greatest possibilities of man are unexhausted.
Democracy is a symptom of the degeneration of man EVAL
There are freedoms in democracies that we do not enjoy in undemocratic states. It protects us.
Totalitarian states are more oppresive to the individual than democratic.
The only solution is to direct our hopes to new philosophers who understand the future of man as his will
A re-evaluation of values is the only way to free ourselves from the degeneration of man under democracy. These leaders will not respond to the ethics of pity, and will ensure that the greater posibilities of man to be a free spirit will be cultivated. They do not fear their neighbours, but the degeration of man.
The only solution is to direct our hopes to new philosophers who understand the future of man as his will EVAL
Self-affirming and life affirming to live according to your will. They feel empowered from self-ownership.
Neech seems accurate in linking moral progression to the reevaluation of values.
The potential to have free will is being undermined unless we all have access to education. This is a notion of equality promoted by democratic states which Neech might disagree with.
Democracy in its purest form is concerned with representing and upholding the view of all people, and so it is through this channel the potntial of the many is unlocked as more are able to access education. Neech’s view seems to only appeal to the potential of the few.
Suffering is of significant value to living a good life
The assumption that suffering is bad is one that is central to many attempts to systemise our morality. N mocks this idea as pitiful, because it rids human beings of a process that actually elevates us. Creatively overcoing suffering is an artistic achievement for the creator in man, whereas the attempt to overcome suffering appeals only to pity the creature.
