Revaluation of Values: Nietzsche’s Critique of Western Thought
Nietzsche’s Critique of Science and Philosophy
Nietzsche criticizes the philosophy of science because philosophy is based on a model of rationality that claims to be the correct one. Both science and philosophy have, from the beginning, been characterized by their eagerness to find the truth. However, for Nietzsche, this is an illusion because the origin of language is metaphorical, and both science and philosophy are built out of language. Therefore, both scientific and philosophical truths are, at most, a fiction that Western man believed literally.
The Apollonian and Dionysian Duality
Nietzsche applies the Apollonian and Dionysian duality to life, fitting different positions:
- Apollonian: The creator of perfect, balanced, and measured forms.
- Dionysian: Represents irrationality, sensitivity, pleasure, terror, chaos, and passion.
Nietzsche considers both essential to life, although he gives more importance to the Dionysian because it is the essence of true culture. He argues that Platonic thought destroyed what he deems necessary for the overcoming of life, which is essential for the revaluation of values.
The Will to Power
This is the energy or force that encourages any activity. It is a force that can undo what constrains us and is capable of creating false values for ourselves. This concept is fundamental to the emergence of the Superman and the Transvaluation (Revaluation of all values).
Critique of Traditional Philosophy (Plato)
Nietzsche’s critique of philosophy begins with Plato and the critical thinking that divides the world into two: the sensitive world and the world of ideas (or the “true” world). Plato gives more importance to the latter, neglecting the former. Nietzsche considers that anyone who divides the world into two does so because they have misgivings against life itself.
He establishes the supremacy of the instinctual versus reason. He argues that the unchanging, the true, and the eternal are merely an invention of man, and that the intuitive, the sensible, the changing, and appearances are the only reality.
The Demise of God and Western Culture
Critique of Religion
Nietzsche criticizes religion because he knows that it does not contain any kind of truth. Religion has not, nor ever had, either directly or indirectly, dogma or symbol as a single truth. Furthermore, all religion stems from human incapacity and fear (the domain of morally weak men).
Nietzsche criticizes religion for the inversion of values: it invents a heavenly life and despises this earthly one. It promotes the values of the commoners.
The Death of God
Nietzsche considers the death of God indispensable for the emergence of the Superman and their new values. It signifies the liberation of the human being; God prevents man from being himself. If God dies, all elements of Western culture die with him (religion, morality, metaphysics) because this culture is sustained by the concept of God.
The Revaluation: Master and Slave Morality
Nietzsche criticizes the morality that characterizes Western culture and all its forms of values (Socialism, Christianity, etc.). This morality is based on Platonism and is not grounded in this world, but in the “beyond,” in the sky. Furthermore, it imposes a set of norms and values that dictate what is good, what is bad, and what one should or should not do. This morality is not self-imposed by man but is imposed by God. Therefore, Nietzsche argues that we must “kill this God” (the death of God) so that the human being can live freely, allowing the morality of the Superman to arise.
Two Types of Morality
Nietzsche distinguishes two types of morality:
- Morality of the Masters (Lords): Born of the aristocracy, knights, and the strong, great man.
- Morality of the Slaves: Characterized by common values, obedience, and sacrifice. This is the morality that currently dominates.
The Superman (Übermensch)
The creation of the Superman involves the creation of new values and a morality of masters which, through the revaluation, will return to the primitive sense of terms like good and evil (truth and lie), moving beyond conventional morality and achieving a non-moral sense.
The Superman is the one who accepts life as it is, a man of power who rejects anything beyond, whether metaphysical or spiritual. The modern Superman is opposed to the gregarious and the gentle. He is the one who establishes himself, his life, and his values. His main purpose is the Revaluation of all values.
Key Characteristics of the Superman:
- Emphasizes worldliness and rejects the beyond.
- Embraces an intuitive world.
- Possesses vitality and joy of life, contrary to the moral herd.