Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Critique of Morality, Metaphysics, and Nihilism
Nietzsche’s Philosophy
Critique of Morality
Contranatural Morality
Nietzsche criticizes traditional morality, referring to it as “contranatural.” He argues that it opposes the vital instincts and the natural “laws” of life. He sees Platonico-Christian morality as a condemnation of these instincts.
The Paradox of Morality
Nietzsche views traditional morality as a symptom of decadence and nihilism. He finds it paradoxical that this negative judgment of life is justified in God and not in humanity. The concept of free will, central to moralistic approaches like Christianity, is criticized by Nietzsche. He argues against the idea of a moral world as an external guide, proposing instead that laws are immanent and part of human nature.
God and Morality
Nietzsche challenges the idea of a moral world originating from God. He argues that if God has been the great objection against life, then denying God “redeems” the world. Humans, according to Nietzsche, do not need God for freedom, as there is no transcendent law.
Nietzsche’s “Immoralism”
Often labeled an “immoralist,” Nietzsche’s morality differs drastically from Christian morality. It focuses on the exaltation of life, embracing both its creative and destructive aspects.
Critique of Metaphysics
Ontological Critique
Nietzsche argues that traditional metaphysics is based on a fundamental error: the belief in the antithesis of values. He criticizes the static ontology of traditional philosophy, which posits a fixed and immutable being. He contrasts this with his view of reality as a constant becoming, a continuous process of creation and destruction.
Four Theses on the Misconception of Being
- The reasons for rating this world as apparent are unprovable. Nietzsche questions the categories of reason through which humans apprehend being.
- The characteristics assigned to “true being” are actually marks of non-being. The real world is constructed in opposition to the apparent world of the senses, an “optico-moral illusion.”
- Inventing tales of another world stems from a distrust of life. This nihilistic suspicion leads to inventing another world as revenge against this one.
- Dividing the world into real and apparent is a symptom of decadent life, a negative desire inherent in both Christianity and Kantianism.
Epistemological Critique
Nietzsche criticizes the mathematization of reality in positive science, arguing that it only establishes quantitative relationships and ignores qualitative differences.
Concept and Reality
Nietzsche argues that concepts, formed through generalizations and metaphors, do not truly grasp the changing reality of being. He suggests an aesthetic approach, acknowledging the ephemeral and creative nature of experience.
Reality and Language
Nietzsche questions the role of grammar in shaping philosophical thought, suggesting that we might be deceived by our own language.
Nihilism and Its Forms
Nietzsche views nihilism not just as a doctrine but as a historical movement within Western culture. He sees it as a consequence of the “death of God,” the loss of a suprasensible ordering principle.
Two Faces of Nihilism
Nihilism has both negative and positive aspects. The negative face represents the destructive criticism of the Platonic-Christian tradition. The positive face involves reflecting on the conditions that led to nihilism, opening the possibility for overcoming it.
Three Stages of Nihilism
- Destruction of existing values: doubt, disorientation, and loss of meaning.
- Affirmation of the nihilistic process: reflection and distancing from tradition.
- Turning point towards a new perspective: a re-evaluation of life, guided by the “will to power.”
The Death of God
Nietzsche’s “death of God” refers to the death of the metaphysical, monotheistic God. He advocates for a plurality of perspectives, a “polytheism” that reflects the free spirit and creative will of humanity.
The Will to Power
Nietzsche sees reality as dynamic and perspectival. Life is an interpreter, selecting and interpreting aspects of reality. He emphasizes the correlation between reality and life, between being and its interpretation through thought and language.
Interpretation of Reality
Human reality is multiple, driven by a plurality of impulses and instincts. A fixed perspective becomes problematic when it denies the constant change and influx of other perspectives.
The New Idea of Truth
Truth, for Nietzsche, is not about true or false but about what favors life. Human logic serves to stabilize and simplify the constant becoming of reality. Truth is a consolidated perspective, an error that is necessary for life.
The New Idea of Language
Nietzsche questions the adequacy of language to represent the dynamic nature of being. He emphasizes the power of metaphor, which allows for the integration of diversities and avoids the petrification of concepts.
Atheism and the Transvaluation of Values
Nietzsche’s pluralism expresses his radical atheism. The human, as will to power, creates new values. This transvaluation of values affirms life, embracing its multiplicity and constant becoming.
The Idea of the Übermensch
The Übermensch (Superman) represents the overcoming of nihilism. It embodies the affirmation of life and the will to power. This new human is achieved through a “great politics” that prepares humanity for its next stage. The Übermensch rejects equality and embraces the experimental nature of life.