Self, Ethics, and Society Quiz 3

Who is often called an immoralist?

Nietzsche

What did Nietzsche promote?

He promoted a more naturalistic (noble) view of morality, as opposed to the supernatural origin of western Christian morality.

Who argued that there are occasions when promises should be broken?

Cicero

What is a bad conscience according to Nietzsche?

Our tendency to see ourselves as sinners. Came with the development of society to inhibit our animal instincts for aggression and cruelty, and to turn them inward upon ourselves.

What is the Death of God?

Nietzsche believed that the Death of God had created a moral vacuum, leading to the problem of nihilism.

What is übermensch?

Often translated as “overman” or “Superman” and is a goal that humanity can set for itself.

What does Cicero say we should equate good with?

Pleasure

What did Nietzsche focus on?

The Death of God, eternal recurrence, the Übermensch, and the will to power.

What age did Nietzsche become a professor?

At 24 years old and he is still the youngest tenured Classics professor on record.

What caused Nietzsche’s mental collapse?

Attempting to protect a horse from being whipped.

What were Nietzsche’s thoughts on the newly forming Nazi party?

He believed their antisemitic views should be “utterly rejected with cold contempt by every sensible mind.”

What are some themes amongst Nietzsche’s works?

A fondness for irony, metaphor, and aphorism. Overtly blasphemous and provocative.

Nietzsche on truth

Objective truth is only an army of metaphors created for comfort.

Nietzsche’s views on morality.

Considered himself an immoralist and believed that strict moral guidelines should be avoided.

What is a nihilistic vacuum?

Nihilism is a type of philosophy that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence.

What was Nietzsche’s posited solution to the Death of God?

A re-evaluation of all values calling mankind to step up and create its own morality (Übermensch).

What is good according to Nietzsche?

Good = slaves’ false values of kindness, sympathy, selflessness, patience, and humility. Life-denying.

What is evil according to Nietzsche?

The noble values of the rulers which are considered legitimate. Master morality is noble in that it sees oneself at the center and origin of all value. Life-affirming.

Concept of Übermensch as Purpose

Natural, this-worldly, life-affirming, and realistic.

Concept of Traditional Western God as Purpose

Supernatural, other-worldly, life-denying, and escapist.

All organic processes…

rely on some form of exploitation of the weaker by the stronger and it is folly to try to eliminate this exploitation altogether.

Will the noble be recognized by the majority?

By simple majority rule, the exceptional is always marginalized.

Master Morality

Developed by the strong, healthy, and free who saw their own happiness as good and named it thus.

Slave Morality

Ressentiment leads to slave revolt in morality which lead to the universal dominance of good/evil.

Faults to avoid in the pursuit of truth.

Hastiness of judgement and the rash assumptions that go with it. Waste of great enthusiasm on unworthy matters.

Four Cardinal Values

Wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation and reasonableness.

Why does Cicero say you can break a promise?

Duty can change and in some scenarios keeping a promise would be the antithesis of justice.

What does Cicero say we should equate evil with?

Pain