Nietzsche’s Will to Power and Mill’s Utilitarian Happiness
Psychology Turned Inward: Nietzsche’s View
The idea that human psychology can be turned against oneself refers to how desires and impulses, when frustrated, can turn back against us. Our bodies possess a vital energy associated with this will, this flame – the Will to Power. This powerful energy can be channeled into action.
The Poison of Stagnant Energy
What happens when we fail to externalize this vital momentum? This vital energy becomes stagnant, like stagnant water, rotting. It reverses against itself and becomes poisonous. Then arises the feeling of hate, rejection, and bitterness towards life. This occurs because one feels unable to live according to their own will. Life itself becomes poisonous.
Asceticism and Slave Morality
From this poison arises religious asceticism and the illusion of an afterlife where denied desires might supposedly be fulfilled. In this state, the weak suppress their will, adopting a Slave Morality. They yield their will to an alleged god, guided by a priestly caste that dictates how they should live to achieve this supposed afterlife. One is poisoned, unable to live according to their own will. This inability turns into hatred, first towards oneself and then towards others.
Nihilism and the Rejection of Life
According to this perspective, religion becomes associated with suffering; the more one suffers in this life, the greater the reward expected in heaven. Nietzsche rejects this Nihilism – the denial of this life’s value in favor of another. This nihilistic rejection is contrasted with the anti-nihilistic, Dionysian affirmation of life. In the name of Apollonian morality, everything Dionysian, anything associated with the body, becomes suspect because the spirit must be exalted over the flesh.
Zarathustra and the Übermensch
Against all this, Nietzsche speaks through Zarathustra, a prophet announcing the time for the Übermensch (Overman), symbolized by the lion overcoming the camel (representing tradition and burden).
John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism Explained
Utilitarianism, particularly as described by John Stuart Mill, is an ethical doctrine. It considers the purpose of human action to be happiness, achieved through implementing useful measures. In short, utilitarian ethics states that what is good is what is useful for achieving happiness. In this sense, it is a variant of consequentialism.
Measuring Actions by Consequences
We must measure our actions by their consequences, specifically how they contribute to happiness, especially within society, according to Mill’s utilitarianism.
Rule Utilitarianism vs. Act Utilitarianism
Mill focuses mainly on Rule Utilitarianism. Unlike Act Utilitarianism (which assesses individual acts), Rule Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on whether they conform to rules that generally promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Correct behavior is oriented towards this pursuit.
Discovering Happiness Principles
These principles, promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number, are discovered through studying human history and comparing different cultures and societies.
Social Hedonism and Moral Science
Connected to his broader philosophy, Mill defends a form of utilitarian social hedonism and moral positivism. This approach uses scientific methods to identify principles that promote happiness, advocating for legislation based on these scientifically legitimized principles, with moral science as its foundation.
The Role of the State and Liberty
This legislation informs the creation of a state. While potentially seen as a necessary evil that might impose limits on freedom, the state ultimately generates benefits for society. Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism considers humans as social beings who can only be educated and fully develop their potential by living in society. It favors developing our noblest sentiments, promoting social hedonism derived from studying human nature to create a better society.
Balancing Utility and Freedom
To achieve this, the state must contribute by respecting freedom and the right to free expression, while sanctioning actions that violate the Principle of Utility (the greatest happiness principle), according to Mill.