Who was Nietzsche?
Friedrich Nietzsche was one of the many influential philosophers of 19th century Europe. Nietzsche was born in Germany in 1844, and died in 1900. Though Nietzsche never referred to himself as an existentialist, his focus on individual human potential contributed greatly to the existentialist movement after his death. Nietzsche’s philosophy centered around the “ubermensch”.
The “Ubermensch”
The term “ubermensch” (German for “superman”) was coined in Nietzsche’s book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. According to Nietzsche, humans should not conform to the morals and values defined by society, authority, religion, or any other institution. Instead, humans should find their own meaning of life and in doing so, become the so-called “ubermensch.”
Good and Evil
In his book Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche urges people to abandon what different religions or institutions have claimed about what’s “good” and what’s “evil”. He mentions the Jews, who he refers to as clever, having found a way to challenge authorities by purposely reshaping moral values to condemn the men of power. Nietzsche also criticizes monotheistic religions, especially Christianity, for associating submissiveness (a weakness) to obedience (a virtue), and the inability to avenge (a weakness) to forgiveness (a virtue).
Nietzsche on Europe’s history
Nietzsche also turns to history - to him, the Renaissance was a “brilliantly sinister revival” of humanism and classical ideals. He claimed that the Reformation, a return to scripture and obedience to Christian values, was a movement that destroyed the rebirth and power of man. Nietzsche also mentions Napoleon, whom he considered to be an “ubermensch,” as he ended the French Revolution (which was a disaster) and centralized power under his own empire.
Nietzsche Quotes
“Behold, I teach you the overman. The overman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: the overman shall be the meaning of the earth! I beseech you, my brothers, remain faithful to the earth, and do not believe those who speak to you of otherworldly hopes!”
“The noble type of man regards himself as a determiner of values; he does not require to be approved of; he passes the judgment: "What is injurious to me is injurious in itself;" he knows that it is he himself only who confers honour on things; he is a creator of values.”
“Once the sin against God was the greatest sin; but God died, and these sinners died with him. To sin against the earth is now the most dreadful thing, and to esteem the entrails of the unknowable higher than the meaning of the earth…”