Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) stands as a profoundly influential and controversial figure in modern philosophy, rightly regarding himself as the successor to Schopenhauer, yet surpassing him in the coherence and radicalism of his doctrines.
A literary rather than academic philosopher, Nietzsche’s primary importance lies in his ethics and his biting critique of religion. He invented no new technical theories in metaphysics or epistemology; instead, he unleashed a torrent of provocative ideas that challenged conventional morality, advocating for a “will to power” that would reshape human values and society.
Nietzsche’s upbringing was pious, but his powerful intellect led him to a radical break with traditional Christianity. He admired the pre-Socratics (except Pythagoras), particularly Heraclitus, for their embrace of flux and struggle. He also held Aristotle’s “magnanimous man” in high esteem, seeing in him a precursor to his own “noble man.”
However, he vehemently criticized Socrates and Plato for introducing what he saw as a “democratic moral bias” and a preference for “edification” over raw truth.
Nietzsche’s outlook, deeply influenced by romanticism, was one of aristocratic anarchism—a blend of ruthlessness, war, and pride with a love for philosophy, literature, and art. He saw himself as akin to Machiavelli’s Prince, advocating for a deliberate anti-Christian ethic aimed at power and the creation of a new, higher type of human being.
⚔️ Beyond Good and Evil: Redefining Virtue
Nietzsche’s ethical philosophy is characterized by a deliberate inversion of traditional values, famously explored in his book Beyond Good and Evil. He argued that conventional morality, particularly Christian morality, is a “slave morality”—a system invented by the weak and resentful to control the strong.
He expressed virulent contempt for utilitarianism and the idea that “what is right for one man is right for another,” seeing such principles as promoting mediocrity and a transactional view of human relations.
True virtue, for Nietzsche, is not for all, but for an aristocratic minority—the “higher men”—who possess strength of will, courage, and a drive for power. He believed in Spartan discipline and the capacity to endure and inflict pain for important ends, seeing compassion as a weakness to be combated.
As he wrote, “The object is to attain that enormous energy of greatness which can model the man of the future by means of discipline and also by means of the annihilation of millions of the bungled and botched.” He even prophesied an era of great wars with a certain grim glee, viewing them as necessary for the elevation of humanity.
🚫 The Critique of Christianity and the Superman
Nietzsche’s most vitriolic critique was reserved for Christianity, which he saw as a “nihilistic” and “degenerative” religion, born from the revolt of the “bungled and botched” (the weak and resentful). He accused Christianity of taming the wild beast in man, destroying natural splendor, and promoting self-contempt and self-immolation (as exemplified by Pascal).
In place of the Christian saint, Nietzsche envisioned the “noble man” or “Superman”—a governing aristocrat capable of cruelty, recognizing duties only to his equals, and embodying the incarnate will to power. This Superman would protect artists and poets, learn from warriors, and practice inexorable discipline, allowing for violence and cunning in war.
While he was not a nationalist in the conventional sense (he desired an international ruling race) and admired the Old Testament more than the New, Nietzsche’s ideas, despite their megalomaniac tendencies and problematic implications, have had a profound and undeniable influence on modern thought. This is particularly true of his radical challenge to traditional ethics and his vision of a new, powerful humanity.
Source: Russell, Bertrand. A History of Western Philosophy. Simon and Schuster, 1945.
More Topics
- John Dewey: Instrumentalism and the Evolution of Truth
- The Utilitarians: Can Happiness Be Quantified and Legislated?
- Karl Marx: The Philosopher of History, Class, and Revolution
- Bergson: The Philosopher of Life, Intuition, and Creative Evolution
- William James: Radical Empiricism and the ‘Will to Believe’
- Locke’s Theory of Knowledge: How Did Empiricism Challenge Innate Ideas?
- Locke’s Political Philosophy: How Did He Justify Government by Consent?
