Nietzsche, Utilitarianism, and the Poison of Repressed Desires
Nietzsche’s View on Repressed Desires
Human beings have desires and impulses, but when they fail to act on them, these impulses can become poisonous. According to Nietzsche’s anthropological view, we are composed of mind and body, containing a vital energy linked to the will to power. This energy drives us to act, and it must flow. If we constantly restrain this energy, it stagnates, turning against itself and becoming poisonous. This leads to feelings of rejection, hatred, and bitterness towards life.
This rejection gives rise to the illusion of another life where repressed desires are fulfilled. Nietzsche believed that those who constantly repress their desires are weak and cowardly, forming the morality of slaves. They give way to a supposed God, guided by priests, and follow religious canons instead of their own desires, leading to suffering.
The inability to follow one’s will poisons thinking, accumulating hatred and religious sentiment. Nietzsche associated religion with suffering, as it recognizes the will of the sinner. The hatred of this life, caused by the stagnation of vital energy, leads to the belief in another life, associating it with nihilism, which denies the value of this life. This nihilistic attitude is also linked to Dionysian values.
Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Happiness
Utilitarianism is an ethical doctrine that considers the purpose of human action to be the achievement of happiness through useful actions. It is a form of consequentialism, where actions are measured by their consequences in relation to happiness, especially in society.
Mill’s Utilitarianism
Mill’s utilitarianism focuses on the rule, promoting the good for the greatest number of people, unlike act utilitarianism, which seeks good for a single individual. Principles that promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number are discovered through the study of human history and comparison between cultures.
Moral Positivism and Social Hedonism
Connected to his philosophy, moral positivism defends a utilitarian social hedonism. It is based on the defense of principles that promote legislation with scientific legitimacy, placing Moral Science as a basis for such legislation. The state, considered a necessary evil, generates benefits for society, despite limiting freedom.
The Role of Society and the State
Rule utilitarianism considers humans as social beings who can only fully develop their potential within society. Some favor the development of their noblest sentiments by promoting social hedonism through the study of man to create a better society. The state should respect freedom and free expression while sanctioning actions that go against the principle of utility, as Mill suggests.