Nietzsche’s opines that there are two different moralities; the master and slave morality that appears universally in society and are always in conflict with each other. According to the philosopher, people with a stronger will and more ambitions possess master morality. These individuals are also open-minded, risk-takers, influencers, and have high self-esteem.

Master morality, stresses power and pride with the belief that the consequences of an action are more relevant than the intention. From the master’s perspective, nothing is evil or good, and in its place, there is a weak and timid versus a strong and noble. Most ethical standards adopted in contemporary society are opposed to master morality.

On the other hand, stem morality is rooted in the disfavor for master morality. It usually serves as a counter-reaction to individuals with master morality. According to Greggory and Donna, from the slave morality outlook, a lack of master morality is considered excellent, and selflessness, humility, and altruism are approved (115).

Slave morality will devalue the possessions of a master because the slave does not have them. The perspective is usually a response to oppression, so domination is criticized from this viewpoint. As Nietzsche claims, a slave moralist is more weak-willed and pessimistic. Such a person will hold the belief that power is wrong simply because a master moralist has it. Theoretically, they endeavor not to be masters but to create equality between the slave and the master. 

READ:
Friedrich Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil

In yet another well-known statement of his philosophy, Nietzsche declared that God is dead. This claim is symbolic and does not mean that there is a God who is dead. Instead, he suggested that the human belief of an existing God had died. The years following the enlightenment era saw a general acceptance of the notion that a divine being did not govern the universe but physical laws.

Philosophy and science had shown people reality, and governments were no longer organized around a religious idea. Consent and rationality played a crucial role, and moral theories existed without reference to God. In this shift of ideology, God was no longer relevant as a source of value and morality.

This widespread secularization of thought led to the idealization that God was dead, and humanity had killed him through a scientific and philosophical revolution. This is through the desire to understand more about the universe. Nietzsche’s statement was a reminder of the continuing loss of belief in God that was occurring across Europe.

Nietzsche also offered an argument on the transformation of values. His emphasis on change is to try to invoke thoughts beyond the traditional values and influence people to acquire new values. Nietzsche had been greatly influenced by the anti rational and cynical theories of Arthur Schopenhauer, the olden Greco-Roman civilization, and the then values of survival for the fittest.

READ:
Friedrich Nietzsche’s Übermensch (Superman)

Consequently, he had an aversion to the Western bourgeois culture that encouraged life-denying principles. However, he singles out the Judeo-Christian ethic as the source of the anti natural ideology. Its distortion of naturalness is seen among its doctrine that promotes humility, altruism, and pity. To him, these were elements that led to a weaker mind.

For instance, the Christian belief in an afterlife makes people less able to cope on earth. With the impression of survival for the fittest enrooted in his reasoning in combination with the ideals of economic and political terms, Nietzsche believed that everyone is responsible for his or her wellness. 

author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post comment