For centuries, mankind has been ruled by two words good and evil. These two simple words carry with them a weight that is nearly indescribable, one so great all forms of art have attempted to express them, and entire religions are built around them. But where do these two words come from? Some philosophers claim that they are natural, evidence of something greater than ourselves instilling in us a sense of morality. Others claim they are borne of our desire to prosper in life. In Genealogy of Morals, Nietzsche rejects these ideas, even rejects the notions themselves. Instead of being something natural, he claims, they are the tools of the powerful used to keep themselves in power. For Nietzsche, this immediately devalues them. I contend that he sees this concept of good and evil as philosophically useless and, even further, something to be eliminated from society.
Where Nietzsche begins, we too shall begin the origin of the words themselves. Nietzsche's argument is......
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Approximate Word Count: 874
Approximate Pages: 4 (260 words per double-spaced page) |