Friedrich Nietzsche: A Philosopher Beyond Good and Evil

Written by Amani Rizwan
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Edvard Munch

In the vast landscape of philosophical thought, few figures stand out as provocatively as Friedrich Nietzsche. The German thinker, who lived from 1844 to 1900, is often considered a lightning rod for controversy, renowned for his radical ideas and fearless critique of conventional morality and religion. Nietzsche's writings are charged with a sense of intellectual rebellion and freethinking. His works, including "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and "Beyond Good and Evil," challenge the status quo and urge readers to engage in "philosophising with a hammer." Nietzsche encourages questioning, critiquing, and deconstructing established values, allowing us to pave the way for a more critical and reflective engagement with the world.

Nietzsche's philosophical journey is characterised by a relentless pursuit of truth and a fundamental questioning of conventional wisdom. One of his central concepts, "perspectivism," posits that all knowledge is subjective and influenced by one's unique perspective. Nietzsche believed that there is no universal truth but rather multiple truths, each contingent on the individual's interpretation of reality. This idea challenges the notion of an objective reality, encouraging one to embrace diverse viewpoints and appreciate the richness of human subjectivity. If anything, it opens the door to understanding the nuanced and diverse perspectives that shape our world through the lens of empathy and humanity. Perspectivism makes it easier to realise that every person’s outlook on life, or anything for that matter is moulded by the thousands of experiences they’ve had, all unique to them. And as bittersweet as it is, you will truly never know what or how someone is experiencing a situation and vice versa.

Beyond perspectivism, Nietzsche also introduced the concept of the "will to power." He argued that all human actions, desires, and ambitions are rooted in this innate drive for power and dominance. He believed this fundamental impulse influences our decisions, desires, and moral values. Many people interpret this theory rather crudely, and think that it means that humans want something unattainable, like world domination. However, this idea of ‘will to power’ challenges traditional moral values and notions of “good” and “evil.” The need for power expresses itself differently for everyone; for example, the will to power shows up when performing even the most humanitarian tasks like helping somebody. The act of making someone feel obligated to us allows us to feel powerful and expands our influence since people we help see the benefits of having us on their side. This isn’t necessarily bad, though, since you technically are helping somebody! On the contrary, Nietzsche argues that inflicting pain is typically less enjoyable than displaying kindness, and he goes so far as to say that cruelty is an indication of weakness since it is the worst of two evils.

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Nietzsche's famous declaration that "God is dead" is perhaps the most widely misinterpreted hallmark of his philosophy. The philosopher didn’t actually think God was dead, but rather that our idea of God had eroded. He contended that traditional religious beliefs had lost their influence and significance in the modern world, seeing as most modern governments no longer had to be grounded in the concept of spiritual right in order to be constitutional, but rather on the agreement or reason of the governed. And while this proclamation served as a call to arms for individuals to create their own values, free from the dogmas of religion and societal norms, it also welcomed thoughts of meaninglessness. Nietzsche feared that this new-found world would foster pessimism – a “will to nothing” if you will. In his book, “The Will to Power”, he expressed his concern for the West saying, “What I relate is the history of the next two centuries. I describe what is coming, what can no longer come differently: the advent of nihilism… (a viewpoint in philosophy that states all values, morals, and beliefs are essentially meaningless) For some time now our whole European culture has been moving as toward a catastrophe.” And surely enough, Europe did see catastrophe in the form of communism, Nazism, and other extreme ideologies. However, all hope isn’t lost as Nietzsche's work laid the groundwork for existentialism, which explored the themes of individual freedom, authenticity, and the search for meaning in a world of existential dread. Almost like Camus, Nietzsche suggested we create our own values and meaning without the aid of dogma – in essence, he called for being good for the sake of being good, out of the kindness of our hearts.

In conclusion, Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical legacy stands as a beacon of intellectual courage and innovation. His ideas, though often divisive, have left an indelible mark on the world of philosophy and have transcended disciplinary boundaries to inspire thinkers, writers, and artists from all walks of life. Nietzsche's exploration of moral subjectivity, individualism, and his rejection of moral absolutes, resonate with contemporary debates on morality and the nature of truth even today. Moreover, his groundbreaking work paved the way for the emergence of existentialism and nihilism, fostering a legacy that influenced modern luminaries like Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and fan-favourite Albert Camus. In the words of Satre himself, "life begins on the other side of despair." Nietzsche's philosophy embodies just this, with its unapologetic embrace of the complexities of human existence, he encourages us to not just acknowledge but challenge our fears, doubts, and uncertainties, and to find our own path to a more authentic and fulfilling life.