Philosophical pill: A bit of Nietzsche

Nietzsche is a thinker who provokes deep reflections and questions about the role of man in society and the meaning of life...

1. Presentation

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a 19th-century German philosopher who developed a unique and provocative philosophy. He addressed topics such as: truth, morals, religion, life and death.

He believed that (traditional) morals and religion had become oppressive and limiting to humanity and, with that, he sought to create a new way of thinking that could value individuality and the will to power. Some of his best-known concepts include the "Übermensch" (beyond-man), criticism of Christian morality, and the idea of "eternal return".

For a good understanding of his thought, something has to be said about the aphorism and its role in his Philosophy.

Aphorism is a form of philosophical writing consisting of short, concise, poetic sentences that convey a profound idea. Nietzsche used the aphorism in his works to express his ideas in a succinct and impactful way, in order to stimulate the reader's critical thinking and help him to understand his philosophy. In addition, the aphorism is a form of writing that allows Nietzsche to express his ideas freely and not linearly, which reflects the fragmented and multiple nature of philosophical thought.

Nietzsche's use of aphorisms reflects his concern with the language and effective communication of philosophy.

2. Main concepts

His legacy includes a wide range of concepts and ideas, some of which are still debated and influential today. In this article, we'll explore some of these key ideas.

Apollonian and Dionysian

Nietzsche distinguishes between two archetypes that represent two opposing modes of being human: the Apollonian and the Dionysian. The Apollonian is the principle of reason, order and clarity [or principle of individuation]; represents the pursuit of beauty and perfection. The Dionysian is the principle of passion, instinct and emotion; represents creative fury, the pleasure of life and sensuality. Nietzsche argues that art, religion and culture are the result of the interaction between these two archetypes.

Amor Fati

Nietzsche reiterates the idea of amor fati, or love of fate. This means that instead of fighting fate, we should love and accept it, because everything that happens is necessary and part of a great order. In this regard, pessimism is overcome and life is seen as a fascinating adventure, full of possibilities and challenges.

Eternal return

Another central idea of Nietzsche is the eternal return. He argues that everything that has ever happened will happen again, eternally. This means that, despite appearances, life is an endless repetition of events, and that we must embrace this fact and live fully in each moment, as it is meant to be repeated.

Decadence

Nietzsche sees Western civilization as decadent, due to what he calls the "burnout syndrome". He argues that Christian morality, ethics, and scientific positivism are expressions of a culture that has lost its vitality and turned to the denial of life. He proposes that the solution to this decadence is to overcome Christian morality and create a new morality, based on different values.

Herd morale

The herd moral, according to Nietzsche, is the morality inherited from the masses and imposed by institutions such as church, politics and family. This morality is based on values such as compassion, equality, humility and submission which (according to Nietzsche) are values of the weak and not of the strong. Herd morality is seen by Nietzsche as a form of control and oppression by the strong over the weak and is an obstacle to the realization of the will to power — the desire for growth and overcoming — of humanity.

Will to Power

He describes the Will to Power as a vital force that drives life to seek to increase its potency and fulfill its desires. This will is not only limited to human beings, but is a force present in all living things in nature.

Nietzsche believes that the Will to Power is the source of creativity, art and culture and that it is responsible for the evolution and development of life. He argues that the Will to Power is the driving force in the human quest for knowledge, fulfillment and happiness.

3. His critique of Platonism

Friedrich Nietzsche harshly criticized Platonic philosophy and ancient Greek metaphysical thought, arguing that they focused too much on the search for universal and eternal truths, denying the concrete reality of life. For Nietzsche, Plato's theory of Eternal Forms (which proposes that there is a suprasensible world of eternal and perfect ideas) is an escape from reality and a denial of life and its imperfections [something too questionable, since the horizon of understanding of thought Platonic takes another route]. Furthermore, he argues that ancient Greek metaphysical thought is decadent and inert, as it focuses on abstract concepts rather than on the immediate reality of life.

Nietzsche had in mind (in criticizing Platonic and metaphysical thought) the need to focus on concrete life and the immediate world, rather than seeking eternal and universal truths. He believed that philosophy needed to address life and individual experience rather than focusing on abstract and metaphysical concepts. According to his philosophy, life is a vital force that needs to be celebrated and valued and not denied or negotiated. By criticizing Plato and metaphysical thought, Nietzsche sought to stimulate reflection on the importance of life and individual experience in Philosophy.

4. His critique of Christianity [1]

Friedrich Nietzsche saw Christianity as an oppressive and decadent religion that had a negative impact on humanity. He believed that Christian morality, based on submission and renunciation, was detrimental to the human will to power and limited creativity and individuality. Furthermore, Nietzsche argued that the Christian religion valued death and suffering, which he considered a form of self-destruction.

Nietzsche also criticized the conception of God in Christianity, arguing that the belief in an omnipotent and omnipresent being was a weakness of humanity and a lack of courage to face the reality of life and death. Instead, he advocated the creation of a new morality and religion that valued life and individuality.

In short, Nietzsche saw Christianity as a decadent and oppressive belief system that needed to be overcome for the evolution of humanity.

5. Your influences

Friedrich Nietzsche is considered one of the most influential and provocative philosophers of the 19th century. His philosophy is an acidic critique of Western morals, religion and culture, and seeks to question the basis of truth and reality. The formation of Nietzsche's philosophical thought was influenced by a number of authors and philosophical currents, including:

Schopenhauer: Arthur Schopenhauer was one of the philosophers who most influenced Nietzsche. He shared with Nietzsche the pessimistic view of life and the criticism of Enlightenment reason. He argued that life is governed by an uncontrollable and insatiable will, which leads to suffering and dissatisfaction. This view influenced Nietzsche's philosophy on the subject of the Will to Power.

Schelling: Friedrich Schelling was a 19th century German philosopher who developed a theory of nature and reality. He argued that the universe is governed by a cosmic (and divine) force and that truth is known only through intuition. These ideas influenced Nietzsche's philosophy on the nature of truth and knowledge.

Rousseau: Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher and writer of the 18th century. His critique of civil society and conventional morality influenced Nietzsche's philosophy, especially on the issue of individual freedom and the role of society.

Socrates: Was a Greek philosopher of the 5th century BCE who is considered one of the founders of Western Philosophy. His critique of conventional opinions and morals influenced Nietzsche's philosophy on the question of truth and morality.

Classical Philosophy: Classical philosophy, including authors such as Plato and Aristotle, influenced Nietzsche's philosophy in several ways. He questioned Plato's theory of reality and Aristotle's conception of morals.

6. He influenced Philosophy, Cinema and Literature

In Philosophy: Many authors were influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche during the 20th century, including: 1) Martin Heidegger — the German philosopher was heavily influenced by Nietzsche in his work "Sein und Zeit" [Being and Time]; 2) Jean-Paul Sartre — the French philosopher incorporated Nietzschean concepts into his existentialist philosophy; 3) Jacques Derrida — the French philosopher incorporated Nietzschean concepts into his theory of deconstruction; 4) Martin Buber — the Jewish philosopher incorporated Nietzschean concepts into his theory of dialogue.

These are just a few examples of the many authors who were influenced by Nietzsche during the 20th century. His philosophy continues to be studied and debated to this day and his influence is felt in many fields, including philosophy, literature, psychology and sociology.

In the cinema: Although there are no films directly influenced by Nietzsche, his philosophy influenced many filmmakers and their works. Here are some examples: 1) Terrence Malick — his work is influenced by Nietzsche's aesthetics and search for meaning; 2) Stanley Kubrick — his works are influenced by Nietzsche's philosophy and his critical view of society; 3) David Lynch — his work is influenced by surrealist aesthetics and Nietzsche's philosophy, especially in his approach to truth and reality; 4) Martin Scorsese — his work is influenced by Nietzsche's philosophy and his critique of Christianity; 5) Ingmar Bergman – his work is influenced by Nietzsche's philosophy and his criticism of Christian morality.

These are just a few of the many filmmakers who were influenced by Nietzsche's thinking.

In literature: There are many writers and literary works who were influenced by the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche. Here are some examples: 1) "The Holy Scriptures" by James Joyce — is clearly influenced by Nietzsche's philosophy, especially in his critical approach to Christianity; 2) "Finnegans Wake" by James Joyce — is influenced by Nietzsche's thought and his approach to truth and reality; 3) "Nausea" by Jean-Paul Sartre — is influenced by Nietzsche's philosophy and his critique of Christianity.

These are just a few of the many writers and literary works that were influenced by Nietzsche's thinking.

7. Criticism of Nietzsche's thought

Criticisms of Friedrich Nietzsche's thought include:

Lack of clarity: Some critics argue that Nietzsche's poetic and fragmentary style can be confusing and difficult to follow.

Rejection of reason: Nietzsche is known for his critique of reason and logic, which has led to criticism that he does not provide a solid foundation for his ideas.

Allegedly Misogynistic and Racist Nature of His Philosophy: Some of his writings have been criticized for their misogynistic and racist content, which has led to accusations that his philosophy is morally questionable.

Misuse of his philosophy: He was often misunderstood and his philosophy was misused to justify dangerous political and social ideologies such as Nazism.

Lack of systematicity: Some critics argue that Nietzsche's thought is fragmented and does not form a cohesive view of the world.

However, it is important to highlight that these criticisms are often the subject of philosophical debates and there is no unanimous consensus on them. Many philosophers and thinkers still find value and inspiration in Nietzsche's ideas; and perhaps most important is to say something about Bertrand Russell.

The British philosopher and mathematician [Russell] indeed had a negative view of Nietzsche's thought.

In his work, Russell claims that Nietzsche was incapable of love and that his morals were perverse, and argues that he had a distorted view of life and society. He understood that morals and ethics were something that should be based on compassion and respect for others and believed that morals should be used to promote people's well-being and happiness.

In his opinion, Nietzsche's morality was perverse because it valued strength, the will to power, and individualism over compassion and the well-being of others.

Furthermore, Russell argued that Nietzsche had a distorted conception of reality and that his philosophy was based on myths and fantasies rather than concrete and verifiable facts. In his opinion, Nietzsche's philosophy was a kind of nihilism, which denied the existence of universal values and truths and which led to an empty and meaningless life.

8. Conclusion

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher whose thinking revolutionized Western philosophy and culture. He is known for his criticism of Christian morality, democracy and humanism, as well as his defense of the Will to Power and individualism.

According to experts, for example, Oswaldo Giacóia Jr., Nietzsche sees morality as something created by man and not as an absolute truth and, therefore, believes that the individual should be free to create his own morality and his own life, without being governed by social standards. He also argues that democracy and humanism are weak ideals and that true freedom can only be achieved through the Will to Power and individualism.

Throughout this article, we approach some of the most important concepts of Nietzsche's thought, including his critique of Christian morality, his defense of the Will to Power and his view on the role of the individual in society. Also, we discuss his approach to knowledge, truth and reality and how he positions himself in relation to determinism and free will.

In conclusion, Nietzsche's thought remains influential and relevant to this day and his ideas have been widely discussed and debated by philosophers and thinkers around the world. While there are many differing interpretations and views on his philosophy, one thing is certain:

Nietzsche is a thinker who provokes deep reflections and questions about the role of man in society and the meaning of life.

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[1] A teologia cristã responde ao pensamento crítico de Friedrich Nietzsche de várias maneiras. Alguns teólogos argumentam que Nietzsche não compreendeu plenamente a mensagem cristã e sua natureza transformadora e que sua crítica é baseada em premissas equivocadas. Outros teólogos argumentam que a crítica de Nietzsche à religião cristã pode ser entendida como uma forma de despertar a reflexão sobre as verdades e valores da fé cristã e que a crítica pode ser usada como uma oportunidade para revisitar e renovar a tradição cristã. Outros já argumentam que a religião cristã não é uma forma de opressão, mas, sim, uma fonte de liberdade e esperança para muitas pessoas e que a crítica de Nietzsche não leva em conta esse aspecto positivo da fé cristã. De maneira geral, a resposta da teologia cristã à crítica de Nietzsche é uma combinação de defesa e autocrítica, buscando equilibrar a fé cristã com a realidade histórica e social, e sempre procurando renovar e fortalecer a mensagem cristã.

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Thiago Carvalho.

Psicólogo e pós-graduando em neuropsicologia.