Philosophy 152 Philosophy of Human Nature Darwall Fall 1996 NIETZSCHE III (For next time: read Loptson's chapter on Freud, pp. 165-192.) I An important lesson from Marx and Nietzsche is that we can't take our most cherished ideas for granted, since they derive from quite different sources than they may appear to. (Marx on the relation of specific moral and political ideas to underlying economic forces. Nietzsche on the source of morality and the ideas moral good and evil in the weak's resentment of the strong (cf. Nietzsche's example of the child who attempts to arouse pity (257)). In this sense, both Marx and Nietzsche are philosophers of "enlightenment," of bringing to consciousness those elements of our lives that are hidden, and that we often attempt to keep hidden. (Cf. "morality is a while lie" (254)) II Another resonance between Marx and Nietzsche is the idea of dialectical change. Recall Marx's view of history as one of class struggle in which moral and political forms derive dialectically from the contradictions involved in earlier forms. Nietzsche holds a similar theory of change in some of our fundamental ideas of value. As we discussed last time, there is initial, "natural" form of valuation: good vs. bad. In reaction to this the weak, and the "priestly caste"on their behalf, put forward the idea of morality, of moral good and evil. Now Nietzsche is not an unmitigated critic of this second stage, nor an unmitigated admirer of the first stage, although he thinks the first is far healthier than the second. The second stage brings the idea of responsibility, and a kind of autonomy, onto the stage. However, its form and motives are objectionable. There simply is no such thing as the free will it assumes, and it assumes it for objectionable reasons--inability to directly confront, desire to disable by "sickening" the soul of the strong, etc. Nonetheless, this idea then makes possible the development of an "extra-moral" form of freedom, responsibility, and autonomy that Nietzsche applauds, which will only be possible by full knowledge and reflection on the earlier stages. III So what is Nietzsche's ideal? A. Perfectionist (the best in the species) B. Full honesty and self-honesty, living without illusion C. Involves overcoming obstacles, challenges: self-overcoming (259- 260)