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Russell argues that Nietzsche's aristocratic ethics, while internally coherent and historically influential, rests on fear and personal resentment rather than objective truth, and that universal sympathy offers a superior emotional and philosophical foundation for ethics despite being unprovable by logical argument alone.
- Nietzsche's contempt for democracy, women, and Christianity stems from his own psychological vulnerabilities masked as philosophical principle
- The choice between aristocratic and universal ethics cannot be settled by logical argument but only by appeal to fundamental emotional commitments
- Universal love and sympathy, while emotionally grounded rather than rationally demonstrable, provide a more coherent basis for ethics than Nietzsche's will to power
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The ultimate argument against Nietzsche's philosophy, as against any unpleasant but internally self-consistent ethic, lies not in an appeal to facts but in an appeal to the emotions.
“I think the ultimate argument against his philosophy as against any unpleasant but internally self-consistent ethic lies not in an appeal to facts but in an appeal to the emotions”
Russell asks whether we should suppose that Lincoln acted from fear of hell, yet to Nietzsche Lincoln is abject while Napoleon is magnificent—a ranking that reveals Nietzsche's values rather than universal truth.
“does anyone suppose that link acted as he did from fear of Hell yet to n Lincoln is adject Napoleon magnificent”
In his daydreams Nietzsche is a warrior, not a professor; all the men he admires were military, revealing that his philosophy of strength is a fantasy compensation for his actual weakness.
“it is obvious that in his Daydreams he is a warrior not a professor all the men he admires were military his opinion of women like every man's is an objectification of his own emotion towards them which is obviously one of fear”
Despite Nietzsche's influence and prophetic accuracy regarding future wars, there is a great deal in him that must be dismissed as merely megalomaniacal, and his personal psychology reveals the same fear and vulnerability he projects onto philosophy.
“nevertheless there is a great deal in him that must be dismissed as merely megalomaniac speaking of Spinosa he says how much of personal timidity and vulnerability does this masquerade of a sickly recluse betray exactly the same may be said of him with less reluctance since he has not hesitated to say it of Spinosa”
Nietzsche's ethic is not one of self-indulgence but rather requires Spartan discipline and the capacity to endure as well as inflict pain for important ends, with strength of will as the supreme virtue.
“nich's ethic is not one of self-indulgence in any ordinary sense he believes in Spartan discipline and the capacity to endure as well as inflict pain for important ends he admires strength of will above all things”
Nietzsche's critique of Christianity at its best is exemplified in his view of Pascal, who represents how Christianity destroys the strong by poisoning their noblest instincts and infecting them with disease until their will-to-power turns inward, causing them to perish through excessive self-contempt and self-flagellation.
“what is it that we combat in Christianity that it aims at destroying the strong at breaking their spirit at exploiting their moments of weariness and debility at converting their proud Assurance into anxiety and conscience trouble that it knows how to poison the noblest instincts and to infect them with disease until their strength their Will To Power turns inwards against themselves until the strong perish through their excessive self-contempt and self- imulation that gruesome way of perishing of which Pascal is the most famous example”
Nietzsche has had great influence not among technical philosophers but among people of literary and artistic culture, and his prophecies about the future have proved more nearly right than those of liberals or socialists.
“it is undeniable that nature has had a great influence not among technical philosophers but among people of literary and artistic culture it must also be conceded that his prophecies as to the Future have so far proved more nearly right than those of liberals or socialists”
Russell agrees with Nietzsche in finding Dostoevsky's frustration contemptible, as a certain uprightness, pride, and self-assertion are elements in the best character, and no virtue rooted in fear is much to be admired.
“dovi would have nothing to do with proper Pride he would sin in order to repent and to enjoy the luxury of confession I will not argue the question how far such aberration can justly be charged against Christianity but I will admit that I agree with nature in thinking Doo's frustration contemptible a certain uprightness and pride and even self assertion of A Sort I should agree are elements in the best character no virtue which has its roots in fear is much to be admired”
Nietzsche's entire abuse of women is offered as self-evident truth without any backing from historical evidence or from his own experience, which was almost confined to his sister.
“the whole of his abuse of women is offered as self-evidence evident truth it is not backed up by evidence from history or from his own experience which so far as women were concerned was almost confined to his sister”
Nietzsche's general outlook remained very similar to that of Wagner despite quarreling with him nominally over Parsifal, which Nietzsche thought too Christian and too full of renunciation, and Nietzsche even went so far as to accuse Wagner of being a Jew.
“He had a passionate admiration for of Vagner but quarreled with him nominally over paral which he thought too Christian and too full of renunciation after the quarrel he criticized Vagner savagely and even went so far as to accuse him of being a Jew his General Outlook however remained very similar to that of Vagner”
Nietzsche is not a worshipper of the state but rather a passionate individualist and believer in the hero; the misery of a whole nation is of less importance than the suffering of a great individual.
“he is not however a worshipper of the state far from it he is a passionate individualist a believer in the hero the misery of a whole nation he says is of less importance than the suffering of a great individual”
Nietzsche, though a professor, was a literary rather than an academic philosopher and invented no new technical theories in ontology or epistemology; his importance is primarily in ethics and secondarily as an acute historical critic.
“a professor was a literary rather than an academic philosopher he invented no new technical theories in ontology or epistemology his importance is primarily in ethics and secondarily as an acute historical critic”
Russell acknowledges that Nietzsche's teaching has partly resulted in the real world becoming like his nightmare vision, but this does not make it any the less horrible.
“I will not deny that partly as a result of his teaching the real world has become very like his nightmare but that does not make it any the less horrible”
Historically, the values of ruthlessness and artistic culture coexisted in the Renaissance; Pope Julius II, fighting for Bologna and employing Michelangelo, might be taken as the sort of man whom Nietzsche would wish to see in control of government.
“historically these values coexisted in the Renaissance Pope Julius II fighting for bologna and employing Michelangelo might be taken as the sort of man whom n would wish to see in control of government”
The Seducer was Rousseau who made woman interesting, then came Harriet Beecher Stowe and the slaves, then the Socialists with their championship of workmen and the poor; all these are to be combated.
“the Seducer was rouso who made woman interesting then came Harriet beer stow and the slaves then the Socialists with their champion ship of workmen and the poor all these are to be combed”
In such a community, faith and honor are sapped by delation and the would-be aristocracy of Supermen degenerates into a clique of trembling tyrants.
“in such a community faith and honor are sapped by delation and the wouldbe aristocracy of Supermen degenerates into a cleck of trembling ptunes”
Nietzsche cannot forgive Socrates for his humble origin, calling him a 'pauper' and accusing him of corrupting the noble Athenian youth with a democratic moral bias.
“he cannot forgive Socrates for his humble origin he calls him a ouier and accuses him of corrupting the noble Athenian youth with a democratic moral bias”
Buddhism and Christianity are both nihilistic religions in the sense that they deny any ultimate difference of value between one man and another, but Buddhism is much the less objectionable of the two because Christianity is degenerative, full of decaying and excremental elements, and its driving force is the revolt of the bungled and botched, a revolt begun by the Jews and brought into Christianity by holy epileptics like St. Paul who had no honesty.
“Buddhism and Christianity he says are both nihilistic religions in the sense that they deny any ultimate difference of value between one man and another but Buddhism is much the less objectionable of the two Christianity is degenerative full of decaying and excremental elements its driving force is the Revolt of the bungled and botched this Revolt was begun by the Jews and brought into Christianity by holy epileptics like St Paul who had no honesty”
Even the graces Nietzsche finds in women are only to be found in women so long as they are kept in order by manly men; as soon as they achieve any independence they become intolerable, for woman has so much cause for shame: there is so much pedantry, superficiality, schoolmasterliness, petty presumption, unbridled indiscretion concealed in woman, which has really been best restrained and dominated hitherto by the fear of man.
“even these graces are only to be found in women so long as they are kept in order by manly men as soon as achieve any Independence they become intolerable woman has so much cause for shame in woman there is so much pedantry superficiality school masterliness Petty presumption unbridled and indiscretion concealed which has really been best restrained and dominated hitherto by the fear of man”
Nietzsche claims that cruelty plays an essential part in aristocratic excellence and that almost everything we call higher culture is based upon the spiritualizing and intensifying of cruelty.
“he will recognize the part played by cruelty in aristocratic Excellence almost everything that we call higher culture is based upon the spiritualizing and intensifying of Cruelty”
Nietzsche's criticism of religions and philosophies is dominated entirely by ethical motives—he admires certain qualities believed to be only possible for an aristocratic minority, and holds that the majority should be only means to the excellence of the few and should not be regarded as having any independent claim to happiness or well-being.
“n's criticism of religions and philosophies is dominated entirely by ethical motives he admires certain qualities which he believes perhaps rightly to be only possible for an aristocratic minority the majority in his opinion should be only means to the Excellence of the few and should not be regarded as having any independent claim to happiness or well-being”
Nietzsche prophesied with a certain glee an era of great wars, and one wonders whether he would have been happy if he had lived to see the fulfillment of his prophecy.
“he prophesied with a certain Glee and era of great Wars one wonders whether he would have been happy if he had lived to see the Fulfillment of his prophecy”
Nietzsche argues it is necessary for higher men to make war upon the masses and resist the democratic tendencies of the age, because everywhere mediocre people are joining hands to make themselves masters, and everything that pampers, softens, and brings the people or women to the front operates in favor of universal suffrage—the dominion of inferior men.
“it is necessary for higher men to make war upon the masses and resist the Democratic tendences of the age for in all directions mediocre people are joining hands to make themselves Masters everything that Pampers that softens and that brings the people or woman to the front operates in favor of universal suffrage that is to say the Dominion of inferior men”
Nietzsche says it is a mistake to regard it as a duty to aim at the victory of good and the annihilation of evil, calling this view English and typical of John Stuart Mill, for whom he has special virulent contempt because Mill advocates the principle that 'what is right for one man is right for another,' which Nietzsche calls an ignoble hypothesis.
“he says for instance that it is a mistake to regard it as a duty to aim at the victory of good and the annihilation of evil this view is English and typical of that Blockhead John Stewart Mill a man for whom he has a especially virent contempt of him he says I apphle the man's vulgarity when he says what is right for one man is right for another”
The noble man is essentially the incarnation of will-to-power itself.
“the noble man is essentially the Incarnate Will To Power”
Nietzsche would likely define the superior few as victors in war and their descendants, whom he regards as biologically superior to the vanquished, with superior individuals more likely to be noble in Nietzschean sense—having more strength of will, courage, impulse toward power, and less sympathy, fear, and gentleness.
“victors in war and their descendants are usually biologically superior to the vanquished it is therefore desirable that they should hold all the power and should manage Affairs exclusively in their own interests...Victors in war and their descendants are usually biologically superior to the vanquished...individuals of the superior race and their descendants are more likely to be Noble in nature sense they will have more strength of will more courage more impulse towards power less sympathy less fear and less gentleness”
Nietzsche is not always quite so fierce in his treatment of women, though always equally contemptuous; in 'The Will to Power' he says women are a perhaps daintier, more delicate and more ethereal kind of creature, and what a treat it is to meet creatures who have only dancing and nonsense and finery in their minds, creatures who have always been the delight of every tense and profound male soul.
“in the will to power he says we take pleasure in woman as in a perhaps daintier more delicate and more ethereal kind of creature what a treat it is to meet creatures who have only dancing and nonsense and finery in their minds they have always been the Delight of every tense and profound male soul”
Nietzsche's ideal noble man is wholly devoid of sympathy, ruthless, cunning, cruel, and concerned only with his own power, with no conception that one who has conquered fear would not need to tyrannize over others or that men who have truly conquered fear lack the frantic quality of the artist tyrant.
“his noble man who is himself in Daydreams is a being wholly devoid of sympathy ruthless cunning cruel concerned only with his own Power King Leah on the verge of Madness says I will do such things what they are yet I know not but they shall be the terror of the Earth this is nich's philosophy in a nutshell it never occurred to n that the lust for power with which he endows his Superman is itself an outcome of fear those who do not fear their neighbors see no necessity to tyrannize over them men who have conquered fear have not the Frantic quality of Nature's artist Tyrant”
Nietzsche refers habitually to ordinary human beings as 'the bungled and botched' and sees no objection to their suffering if it is necessary for the production of a great man.
“he alludes habitually to ordinary human beings as the bungled and botched and sees no objection to their suffering if it is necessary for the production of a great man”
Nietzsche is never tired of railing against women in his pseudo-prophetical book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, saying 'women are not as yet capable of friendship. They are still cats or birds or at best cows. Man shall be trained for war and woman for the recreation of the warrior. All else is folly.' and 'Thou goest to woman, do not forget thy whip.'
“he is never tired of enying against women in his pseudo prophetical book thus spake zarathustra he says that women are not as yet capable of friendship they are still cats or birds or at best cows man shall be trained for war and woman for the recreation of the warrior all else is folly the recreation of the warrior is to be of a peculiar sort if one may trust his most emphatic aism on this subject thou goest to woman do not forget thy whip”
True virtue, as opposed to conventional virtue, is not for all but should remain the characteristic of an aristocratic minority; it is not profitable or prudent, it isolates its possessor from other men, it is hostile to order, and it does harm to inferiors.
“true virtue as opposed to the conventional sort is not for all but should remain the characteristic of an aristocratic minority it is not profitable or prudent it isolates its possessor from other men it is hostile to order and it does harm to inferiors”
The central ethical question is one about sympathy: sympathy in the sense of being made unhappy by the sufferings of others is to some extent natural to human beings, but its development varies greatly; some find pleasure in torture, others like Buddha feel unable to be completely happy while any living thing suffers, and most divide mankind emotionally into friends and enemies feeling sympathy for the former but not the latter.
“The ethical as opposed to the political question is one as to sympathy sympathy in the sense of being made unhappy by the sufferings of others is to some extent natural to human beings young children are troubled when they hear other children crying but the development of this feeling is very different in different people some find pleasure in the infliction of torture others like Buddha feel that they cannot be completely happy so long as any living thing is suffering most people divide mankind emotionally into friends and enemies feeling Sympathy for the the former but not for the latter”
An ethic like that of Christianity or Buddhism has its emotional basis in universal sympathy, while Nietzsche's ethics rests in a complete absence of sympathy; Nietzsche frequently preaches against sympathy and demonstrates no difficulty in obeying his own precepts.
“an ethic such as that of Christianity or Buddhism has its emotional basis in Universal sympathy niches in a complete absence of sympathy he frequently preaches against sympathy and in this respect one feels that he has no difficulty in obeying his own precepts”
Russell agrees with Buddha as he has imagined him, but does not know how to prove that he is right by any argument such as can be used in a mathematical or scientific question.
“for my part I agree with Buddha as I have imagined him but I do not know how to prove that he is right by any argument such as can be used in a mathematical or a scientific question”
Nietzsche's objection to Christianity is that it caused acceptance of what he calls 'slave morality,' whereas the French philosophers before the revolution argued that Christian dogmas are untrue and that Christianity teaches submission to the will of God, which self-respecting human beings should not accept, and that the Christian churches have become allies of tyrants.
“Nicha's objection to Christianity is that it caused acceptance of what he calls slave morality it is curious to observe the contrast between his arguments and those of the French philosop who preceded the revolution they argued that Christian dogmas are untrue that Christianity teaches submission to what is deemed to be the will of God whereas self expecting human beings should not bow before any higher power”
Nietzsche could claim universal support by saying that if men read his works, a certain percentage will come to share his desires and through determination can restore aristocracy with themselves as aristocrats, thereby achieving a fuller life than as servants of the people, but this approach requires changing people's desires rather than appealing to existing ones.
“what he can say as an expansion of the word desirable is this if men will read my Works a certain percentage of them will come to share my desires as regards the organization of society these men inspired by the energy and determination which My Philosophy will give them can preserve and restore aristocracy with themselves as Aristocrats or like me sycophants of aristocracy in this way they will achieve a fuller life than they can have as Servants of the people”
In Russell's imagined debate, Buddha responds by citing examples of human misery—lepers, the poor, the wounded, orphans, and the successful haunted by mortality—and arguing that salvation must come through love, whereas Nietzsche's ideal is purely negative, secured only through non-existence.
“Buddha would open the argument by speaking of the lepers Outcast and miserable the poor toiling with aching Limbs and barely kept Alive by scanty nourishment the wounded in battle dying in slow Agony the orphans ill- treated by cruel Guardians and even the most successful haunted by the thought of failure and death from all this load of Sorrow he would say a way of Salvation must be found and salvation can only come through love”
The word 'desirable' in Nietzsche's philosophy from an external standpoint means simply what Nietzsche desires; the doctrine could be stated more simply and honestly as 'I wish I had lived in the Athens of Pericles or the Florence of the Medici,' but this is not a philosophy, it is a biographical fact about a certain individual.
“what is desirable in nisha's Philosophy from the outsider's point of view what Nisha calls desirable is what Nisha desires with this interpretation Nature's Doctrine might be stated more simply and honestly in the one sentence I wish I had lived in the Athens of Pericles or the Florence of the medy but this is not a philosophy it is a bi rical fact about a certain individual the word desirable is not synonymous with desired by me it has some claim however shadowy to legislative universality”
There are two sorts of saints: the saint by nature who has spontaneous love of mankind and does good because it gives him happiness, and the saint from fear who like a man who abstains from theft only because of police, would be wicked if not restrained by fear of hell or neighbors' vengeance; Nietzsche can only imagine the second sort and is filled with fear and hatred so complete that spontaneous love seems impossible to him.
“there are two sorts of saints the saint by nature and the saint from Fear the saint by Nature has a spontaneous love of mankind he does good because to do so gives him happiness the saint from fear on the other hand like the man who only abstains from theft because of the police would be Wicked if he were not restrained by the thought of Hellfire or of his neighbors venance n can only imagine the second sort of Saint he is so full of fear and hatred that spontaneous love of mankind seems to him impossible”
Lincoln acted with fearlessness and stubborn pride without inflicting pain and without wishing to, whereas Nietzsche admires Napoleon as magnificent; this suggests that genuine strength can coexist with universal sympathy, a possibility Nietzsche has never conceived.
“does anyone suppose that link acted as he did from fear of Hell yet to n Lincoln is adject Napoleon magnificent it remains to consider the main ethical problem raised by n namely should our ethic be aristocratic or should it in some sense treat all men alike”
Speaking of Spinoza, Nietzsche says 'How much of personal timidity and vulnerability does this masquerade of a sickly recluse betray'; exactly the same may be said of Nietzsche with less reluctance, since he has not hesitated to say it of Spinoza.
“speaking of Spinosa he says how much of personal timidity and vulnerability does this masquerade of a sickly recluse betray exactly the same may be said of him with less reluctance since he has not hesitated to say it of Spinosa”
Nietzsche is naturally comparable to Machiavelli in that both have an ethic which aims at power and is deliberately anti-Christian, though Nietzsche is more frank in this respect, while Machiavelli was a man of affairs whose opinions were formed by close contact with public business whereas Nietzsche was a professor, an essentially bookish man and a philosopher in conscious opposition to what appeared to be the dominant political and ethical trends of his time.
“it is natural to compare n with makavelli in spite of important differences between the two men as for the differences melli was a man of Affairs whose opinions had been formed by CL contact with public business and were in harmony with his age he was not pedantic or systematic and his philosophy of politics scarcely forms a coherent whole Nicha on the contrary was a professor an essentially bookish man and a philosopher in conscious opposition to what appeared to be the dominant political and ethical trends of his time”
The whole importance of the period from 1789 to 1815 is summed up in Napoleon; the revolution made Napoleon possible and that is its justification, and nearly all of the higher hopes of this century are due to Napoleon.
“thus the whole importance of the period from 1789 to 1815 is summed up in Napoleon the revolution made Napoleon possible that is its justification we ought to desire the anarchical collapse of the whole of our civilization if such a reward were to be its result Napoleon made nationalism possible that is the latter's excuse almost all of the higher hopes of this Century he says are due to Napoleon”
The question of whether Buddha or Nietzsche can produce arguments that should appeal to an impartial listener cannot be settled by factual argument but only by presenting competing ethical visions to see which appears more coherent and humane.
“the question is if Buddha and N were confronted could either produce any argument that ought to appeal to the impartial listener I not thinking of political arguments we can imagine them appearing for the almighty as in the first chapter of the Book of Job and offering advice as to the sort of world he should create”
Nietzsche prefers to express himself paradoxically and with a view to shocking conventional readers by employing the words 'good' and 'evil' with their ordinary connotations and then saying he prefers evil to good, so that his book 'Beyond Good and Evil' really aims at changing the reader's opinion as to what is good and evil but professes to be praising what is evil and decrying what is good.
“He is fond of expressing himself paradoxically and with a view to shocking conventional readers he does this by employing the words good and evil with their ordinary connotations and then saying that he prefers evil to good his book beyond good and evil really aims at changing the reader's opinion as to what is good and what is evil but professes except at moments to be praising what is evil and decrying what is good”
Buddha's heroes are: Jesus because he told men to love their enemies; the men who discovered how to master the forces of nature and secure food with less labor; the medical men who have shown how to diminish disease; the poets, artists, and musicians who have caught glimpses of the divine beatitude.
“my successor Jesus because he told men to love their enemies the men who discovered how to master the forces of nature and secure food with less labor the medical men who have shown how to diminish disease The Poets and artists and musicians who have caught glimpses of the Divine beatitude”
The word 'desirable' has some claim, however shadowy, to legislative universality; a theist may say that what is desirable is what God desires, but Nietzsche cannot say this; he could say that he knows what is good by ethical intuition but he will not say this because it sounds too canny.
“the word desirable is not synonymous with desired by me it has some claim however shadowy to legislative universality a theist may say that what is desirable is what God desires but Nisha cannot say this he could say that he knows what is good by an ethical intuition but he will not say this because it sounds too canum”
The main ethical problem raised by Nietzsche is whether ethics should be aristocratic or should treat all men equally; this question as initially stated has no clear meaning, requiring first a distinction between aristocratic ethics and aristocratic political theory.
“it remains to consider the main ethical problem raised by n namely should our ethic be aristocratic or should it in some sense treat all men alike this is a question which as I have just stated it has no very clear meaning and obviously the first step is to try to make the issue more definite”
Despite Nietzsche's criticism of the Romantics, his outlook owes much to them and is that of aristocratic anarchism like Byron's, attempting to combine ruthlessness, war, and aristocratic pride on one hand with philosophy, literature, and the arts on the other.
“alab rouso in spite of nisha's criticism of the romantics his Outlook owes much to them it is that of aristocratic anarchism like Byron's and one is not surprised to find him admiring Byron he attempts to combine two sets of values which are not easily harmonized on the one hand he likes ruthlessness war and aristocratic Pride on the other hand he loves philosophy and literature and the Arts especially music”
Christianity aims at taming the heart in man, but this is a mistake because a wild beast has a certain splendor which it loses when it is tamed, and the criminals with whom Dostoevsky associated were better than he was because they were more self-respecting.
“Christianity he argues aims at taming the heart in man but this is a mistake a wild beast has a certain Splendor which it loses when it is tamed the criminals with whom dooi Associated were better than he was because they were more self-respecting”
Nietzsche is nauseated by repentance and redemption, which he calls a 'fully swine'; it is difficult for us to free ourselves from this way of thinking about human behavior because we are heirs to the conscience vivification and self-crucifixion of 2,000 years of Christianity.
“n is nauseated by repentance and Redemption which he calls a fully Su it is difficult for us to free ourselves from this way of thinking about human behavior we are heirs to the conscience vivis section and self- crucifixion of 2,000 years”
Nietzsche appeals to God as the greatest of creative artists: 'Do not let your artistic impulses be curbed by the degenerate, fear-ridden minglings of this wretched psychopath Buddha, who in the courts of Heaven has learned all history since his death and has mastered science with delight in the knowledge and sorrow at the use to which men have put it.'
“I appeal to you Lord as the greatest of creative artists do not let your artistic impulses be curbed by the degenerate fear-ridden Mings of the this wretched psychopath Buddha who in the courts of Heaven has leared all history since his death and has mastered science with delight in the knowledge and sorrow at the use to which men have put it”
Nietzsche condemns Plato especially on account of his taste for edification, though Russell notes Nietzsche does not quite like condemning him and suggests that perhaps Plato was insincere and only preached virtue as a means of keeping the lower classes in order.
“Plato especially is condemned on account of his taste for edification n however obviously does not quite like condemning him and suggests to excuse him that perhaps he was insincere and only preached virtue as a means of keeping the lower classes in order”
What Caesar Borgia was to Machiavelli, Napoleon was to Nietzsche—a great man defeated by petty opponents, and this exemplifies how both philosophers used historical figures as models for their ethical ideals.
“what Caesar boura was to mavelli Napoleon was to nich a great man defeated by Petty opponents”
Many modern developments which have a certain connection with Nietzsche's general ethical outlook are contrary to his clearly expressed opinions, and two applications of his ethic deserve notice: first his contempt for women, and second his bitter critique of Christianity.
“In Justice to Nature it must be emphasized that many modern developments which have a certain connection with his General ethical Outlook are contrary to his clearly expressed opinions two applications of his ethic deserve notice first his contempt for women second his bitter critique of Christianity”
The New Testament is the gospel of a completely ignoble species of man, and no man of note has ever resembled the Christian ideal, as one can see by considering the heroes of Plutarch's lives.
“the new Testament is the gospel of a completely ignoble species of man Christianity is to be condemned for denying the value of Pride pathos of distance great responsibility exuberant Spirits Splendid animalism the instincts of war and of Conquest the deification of passion Revenge anger voluptuousness Adventure knowledge all these things are good and all are said by Christianity to be bad no man of note has ever resembled the Christian ideal consider for instance the heroes of Pluto's lives”
There are practical arguments against Nietzsche's attempt to create permanent aristocracy: modern aristocracies of birth are discredited, the only practicable form of aristocracy is an organization like the fascist or Nazi party, such an organization rouses opposition and is likely to be defeated in war, and if not defeated, must become a police state where rulers live in terror and heroes end up in concentration camps.
“there are weighty practical arguments showing that the attempt to secure his ends will in fact secure something quite different aristocracies of birth are nowadays discredited the only practicable form of aristocracy is an organization like the fascist or the Nazi party such an organization Rouses opposition and is likely to be defeated in war but if it is not defeated it must before long become nothing but a police state where the rulers live in Terror of assassination and the heroes are in concentration camps in such a community faith and honor are sapped by delation and the wouldbe aristocracy of Supermen degenerates into a cleck of trembling ptunes”
These practical arguments against Nietzsche would not have held good in past ages when aristocracy was unquestioned; the Egyptian government was conducted on Nietzschean principles for several millennia and almost all large states were aristocratic until the American and French revolutions, so the ethical rather than political question must be addressed: whether there are objective grounds for rejecting aristocratic ethics.
“these however are Arguments for our time they would not have held good in past ages when aristocracy was unquestioned the Egyptian government was conducted on nitian principle for several Millennia the governments of almost all large states were aristocratic until the American and the French revolutions we have therefore to ask ourselves whether there is any good reason for preferring democracy to a form of government which has had such a long and successful history or rather since we are concerned with philosophy not politics whether there are objective grounds for rejecting the ethic by which nature supports aristocracy”
Pascal sacrificed his magnificent mathematical intellect to his God, thereby attributing to him a barbarity which was a cosmic enlargement of Pascal's morbid mental tortures; Dostoevsky would have nothing to do with proper pride and would sin in order to repent and to enjoy the luxury of confession.
“Pascal sacrificed his magnificent mathematical intellect to his God thereby attributing to him a barbarity which was a cosmic enlargement of Pascal's morbid mental tortures dovi would have nothing to do with proper Pride he would sin in order to repent and to enjoy the luxury of confession”
Nietzsche continues: 'Your ideal is a purely negative one—absence of suffering, which can be completely secured by non-existence. I, on the other hand, have positive ideals. I admire Alcibiades and the Emperor Frederick II and Napoleon for the sake of such men any misery is worthwhile.'
“your ideal is a purely negative one absence of suffering which can be completely secured by non-existence I on the other hand have positive ideals I admire alcibiades and the emperor Frederick II and Napoleon for the sake of such men any misery is worthwhile”
Nietzsche replies: 'Your world would be insipid. You should study Heraclitus, whose works survive complete in the celestial library. Your love is compassion which is elicited by pain. Your truth, if you are honest, is unpleasant and only to be known through suffering. And as to beauty, what is more beautiful than the tiger who owes his splendor to his fierceness?'
“all the same nature replies your world would be insipid you should study heraclitus whose Works survive complete in the celestial Library your love is compassion which is elicited by pain your truth if you are honest is unpleasant and only to be known through suffering and as to Beauty what is more beautiful than the tiger who owes his Splendor to his fierceness”
Nietzsche despises universal love; Russell feels it as the motive power to all that he desires as regards the world.
“nature despises Universal love I feel it the Motive Power to all that I desire as regards the world”
Russell's followers have had their innings but their day is coming rapidly to an end, suggesting a hope that Nietzschean philosophy will lose its influence.
“his followers have had their Innings but we may hope but it is coming rapidly to an end”
Nietzsche regarded himself rightly as the successor of Schopenhauer, though he is superior to Schopenhauer in many ways particularly in the consistency and coherence of his doctrine, while Schopenhauer's Oriental ethic of renunciation seems out of harmony with his metaphysic of the omnipotence of will in nature.
“regarded himself rightly as the successor of schopenhauer to whom however he is Superior in many ways particularly in the consistency and coherence of his Doctrine schopenhauer's Oriental ethic of renunciation seems out of harmony with his metaphysic of the omnipotence of will in nature”
Nietzsche's life included an offer of a professorship of philology at Basel in 1869 before he had taken his degree due to his brilliance as a classicist and student of philology, followed by periods of sick leave and eventual retirement in 1879, after which he lived in health resorts in Switzerland, and finally in 1888 he became insane and remained so until his death.
“he was brilliant at the University as a classicist and student of philology so much so that in 1869 before he had taken his degree he was offered a professorship of philology at Basel which he accepted his health was never good and after periods of sick leave he was obliged to retire finally in 1879 after this he lived in health resorts in Switzerland in 1888 he became insane and remained so until his death”
As might be expected, Nietzsche has a low opinion of Kant, whom he calls a 'moral Fanatic' and assimilates to Rousseau.
“as might be expected he has a low opinion of Kant whom he calls a moral Fanatic alab rouso”
Nietzsche likes Democritus and Epicurus but his affection for the latter seems somewhat illogical unless it is interpreted as really an admiration for Lucretius.
“he likes democratus and epicurus but his affection for the latter seems somewhat illogical unless it is interpreted as really an admiration for lucretius”