POST #8: Nietzsche's Transvaluation of Values
Topic: Having completed the chapter on Nietzsche, what exactly does Nietzsche mean by the “transvaluation of values?” Why is he so critical of Judeo-Christianity? Explain his position.
Nietzsche’s Transvaluation of Values
Friedrich Nietzsche is a prominent German philosopher who emphasizes the “transvaluation of values”. “Trans” is a Latin word meaning “across,” “beyond,” or “on the opposite side”. Therefore, by putting an emphasis on the transvaluation of values, Nietzsche tries to make people look beyond the traditional values and undergo the transformation necessary to obtain new, true values.
Although Nietzsche was a son of a clergyman, he became greatly influenced by the ancient Greco-Roman civilization, the pessimistic, antirationalistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, and the contemporary principle of the “survival of the fittest” after his study at the universities of Bonn and Leipzig. At Bonn and Leipzig, Nietzsche found his new philosophical learning meaningful and the mainstream European civilization despicably weak and decadent.
Nietzsche passionately rejected Western bourgeois civilization because it promotes life-denying values in Nietzsche’s views. However, “the Judeo-Christian ethic is singled out as the most pernicious source of antinatural morality. Its perversion of the will to power is seen in clergymen seeking mastery under cover of hypocritical sermons on meekness, and its repression of the will to power is seen in the “botched and bungled” masses who are taken in by the deceptions of the priests” (Great Traditions, 220).
With the “survival of the fittest” principle enrooted in his ethical values, Nietzsche valued individualism above all else. Individualism is a philosophy, which emphasizes individual liberty, the primary importance of the individual, and the “virtues of self-reliance’ and personal independence”. Nietzsche felt that people need to be independent and have the will to power in order to ascend ethically.
However, during the period of time in which Nietzsche lived in, Christianity ideals were very prevalent. Many Christian beliefs are contrary to Nietzsche’s beliefs. For example, Christianity puts a strong emphasis on the afterlife. Nietzsche thinks that the belief in the afterlife makes Christian followers less able to cope with earthly life.
Moreover, Nietzsche was particularly opposed to pity and altriusm; he believes that the Christianity’s emphasis on pity leads to the elevation of the weak-minded. Portraying these ideals to economic, political terms, Nietzsche supports philosophical capitalism in which all individuals are responsible for their own wellness, and that people can advance through competition.
In contrast with the ideals of peace and universal equality, Nietzsche’s beliefs accentuate the merits of exploitation and competition. “Exploitation and competition, he argues, characterize all living things, because they are the very essence of the will to power” (Great Traditions, 224). Many generally accepted ideals such as universal equality and promotion of public welfare are viewed as philosophical communism by Nietzsche. To Nietzsche, these altruistic ideals sabotage people’s will to power and conceal the hard facts of existence.
In sum, Nietzsche was a revolutionary thinker of his time. His theory of “transvaluation of values,” as it was called, was opposite of the mainstream ethical philosophies. Nevertheless, because Nietzsche was brave enough to publicly express his ideals, his thought had widespread influence and of particular importance in his own country, Germany.
Nietzsche’s Transvaluation of Values
Friedrich Nietzsche is a prominent German philosopher who emphasizes the “transvaluation of values”. “Trans” is a Latin word meaning “across,” “beyond,” or “on the opposite side”. Therefore, by putting an emphasis on the transvaluation of values, Nietzsche tries to make people look beyond the traditional values and undergo the transformation necessary to obtain new, true values.
Although Nietzsche was a son of a clergyman, he became greatly influenced by the ancient Greco-Roman civilization, the pessimistic, antirationalistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, and the contemporary principle of the “survival of the fittest” after his study at the universities of Bonn and Leipzig. At Bonn and Leipzig, Nietzsche found his new philosophical learning meaningful and the mainstream European civilization despicably weak and decadent.
Nietzsche passionately rejected Western bourgeois civilization because it promotes life-denying values in Nietzsche’s views. However, “the Judeo-Christian ethic is singled out as the most pernicious source of antinatural morality. Its perversion of the will to power is seen in clergymen seeking mastery under cover of hypocritical sermons on meekness, and its repression of the will to power is seen in the “botched and bungled” masses who are taken in by the deceptions of the priests” (Great Traditions, 220).
With the “survival of the fittest” principle enrooted in his ethical values, Nietzsche valued individualism above all else. Individualism is a philosophy, which emphasizes individual liberty, the primary importance of the individual, and the “virtues of self-reliance’ and personal independence”. Nietzsche felt that people need to be independent and have the will to power in order to ascend ethically.
However, during the period of time in which Nietzsche lived in, Christianity ideals were very prevalent. Many Christian beliefs are contrary to Nietzsche’s beliefs. For example, Christianity puts a strong emphasis on the afterlife. Nietzsche thinks that the belief in the afterlife makes Christian followers less able to cope with earthly life.
Moreover, Nietzsche was particularly opposed to pity and altriusm; he believes that the Christianity’s emphasis on pity leads to the elevation of the weak-minded. Portraying these ideals to economic, political terms, Nietzsche supports philosophical capitalism in which all individuals are responsible for their own wellness, and that people can advance through competition.
In contrast with the ideals of peace and universal equality, Nietzsche’s beliefs accentuate the merits of exploitation and competition. “Exploitation and competition, he argues, characterize all living things, because they are the very essence of the will to power” (Great Traditions, 224). Many generally accepted ideals such as universal equality and promotion of public welfare are viewed as philosophical communism by Nietzsche. To Nietzsche, these altruistic ideals sabotage people’s will to power and conceal the hard facts of existence.
In sum, Nietzsche was a revolutionary thinker of his time. His theory of “transvaluation of values,” as it was called, was opposite of the mainstream ethical philosophies. Nevertheless, because Nietzsche was brave enough to publicly express his ideals, his thought had widespread influence and of particular importance in his own country, Germany.
posted by Mavis Chao at 12:53 PM
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