Nietzsche - Complete Flashcards
What does Nietzsche aim for with regard to affirming life?
Down-to-Earth outlook.
Must overcome nihilism.
Expand upon the issues that Nietzsche faces regarding nihilism and down-to-earth life affirmation.
As the Spatio-temporal world becomes more tangible, “the beyond” (Platonic ideas, heaven, God etc), is perceived as less real.
According to Nietzsche, how do people maintain their religious outlook when looking for a down-to-earth affirmation of life?
Aim to find on Earth the kind of divinities that were formally located outside of space and time.
According to Nietzsche, what issues can arise when trying to find divine qualities on earth?
World perceived as Spatio-temporal and composed of accidental events.
Makes difficult to find divinity on Earth, when Earth lacks any divine qualities,
Why does Nietzsche believe that you cannot look to the PAST for “the truth”?
The past is gone, and often what they believed is no longer plausible.
Why does Nietzsche believe that you cannot look to the FUTURE for “the truth”?
The future is too distant and speculative to be satisfyingly realistic.
Always is DEFERRED to some later date.
Why does Nietzsche believe that you cannot look to the ‘OTHERWORLD’ for “the truth”?
What does this mean for the Christian God?
Becoming increasingly implausible, given the more down-to-earth orientation.
Not taken seriously - seems ‘dead’ like the Greek Gods.
According to Nietzsche, where must we look for salvation?
The present/now.
What is the issue with fining salvation in the now?
Filled with pain, suffering, accidental events, MEANINGLESS, and death.
NIHILISM.
What is Nietzsche’s goal?
Reinterpret daily world, give enthusiastic meaning to suffering.
According to Nietzsche, what is the ‘negative’ prescription for a cure to nihilism?
Eliminate God and all ‘shadows’ of God.
According to Nietzsche, what are the two positive prescription to cure nihilism?
- Acknowledge ‘perspective of life’ as fundamental.
2. Adopt life-affirming healthy interpretations of the world.
What are THREE examples of life-affirming healthy interpretations of the world, according to Nietzsche?
- Will to Power.
- Superhuman.
- Eternal Recurrence.
What are the ‘shadows’ of God that Nietzsche believes must be annihilated?
Reject ALL absolutes.
What are the FIVE absolutes, according to Nietzsche?
- Perspectives.
- Metaphysical Foundations.
- Meanings.
- Values.
- Interpretations.
What outlook is suggested by Nietzsche, in place of nihilism?
‘Perspective of life’.
What is involved in Nietzsche’s ‘Perspective of Life’? THREE THINGS.
- We are alive, so embody perspective of life.
- Assume X, Y, Z, for life to continue/flourish.
- Affirm X, Y, Z, since essential to perspective of life .
According to Nietzsche, how do we overcome nihilism and affirm life?
OVERCOME traditional morality. ADOPT positive attitude towards suffering.
Why does Nietzsche believe that we are inherently conflicted beings?
Our two perspectives of life and rationality are always at odds.
What two perspectives do we embody, according to Nietzsche?
- Perspective of LIFE.
2. Perspective of RATIONALITY.
Why do we have at least two perspectives, according to Nietzsche?
We are LIVING beings and RATIONAL beings.
What is Nietzsche’s ‘Will to Power’ about? THREE Examples.
- Growth.
- Development.
- Dramatic metamorphosis, etc..
Nietzsche’s conception of life positively involves all of the following except:
- Dionysus.
- The superhuman.
- People who live the longest.
- Amorality.
Nietzsche’s conception of life DOES NOT positively involve PEOPLE WHO LIVE THE LONGEST.
What is Nietzsche’s critique of ‘The Last Man’?
To comfortable; too complacent.
Nietzsche’s argument for pain and against utilitarianism. SIX premises.
- PAIN essential for GROWTH and STRENGTH.
- Growth and strength essential for HEALTHY life.
- PAIN essential for HEALTHY life.
- Less pain, more pleasure = NO growth or strength.
- UTILITARIANISM wants less pain, more pleasure.
- UTILITARIANISM is UNHEALTHY, life-negating outlook.
What does Nietzsche believe conflicts with pursuit of ‘happiness-as-pleasure’ and why?
Conflicts with GREATNESS, STRENGTH, EXCELLENCE etc, because they are made through SUFFERING/PAIN.
TEN qualities of Nietzsche’s ‘Superhuman’.
- Amoral (beyond good and evil).
- Creative.
- Autonomous.
- Healthy (embodiment of ‘life itself’).
- Withstand Pain.
- Strong-willed.
- Victorious attitude.
- Daredevil.
- Rebellious.
- Fearless.
What are the two different approaches to Nietzsche’s ‘Eternal Recurrence’?
- TRUE THEORY of reality.
2. HEALTHY INTERPRETATION of reality.
What are THREE arguments against Nietzsche’s ‘Eternal Recurrence?
- Spin three wheels, they will never be in the same place again. - Sequence will never recur.
- Even if true, no continuity of consciousness between the recurrences (will not realise/remember my recurrences).
- No reason to care about recurring. - If life re-occurs and is absolutely identical, there is really only ONE world.
What are TWO ways to consider the alternative approach to Eternal Recurrence as a simply healthy interpretation of the world?
- Individualistically
- My individual life happening again. - Universalistically
- Entire world happening again.
How d Nietzsche and Schopenhauer rejoin?
Schopenhauer: Moral awareness so we identify with all suffering in the world.
Nietzsche: Awareness of world repetition, experiencing all suffering and joy again.
What is the key difference between Nietzsche and Schopenhauer?
Schopenhauer says NO to affirmation of life.
Nietzsche says YES to affirmation of life.
