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A review by kevin_shepherd
Beyond Good And Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
3.0
Herein, Nietzsche argues that the concepts of good and evil are essentially ambiguous social constructs implemented for the control of the peasantry and for the protection and promulgation of the ruling class.
As usual, Nietzsche has religion, specifically christianity, squarely in his crosshairs:
“It is a curious thing that God learned Greek when he wished to turn author and that he did not learn it better.”
“One should not go into churches if one wishes to breathe pure air.”
Most times, Nietzsche’s lambasting of the reverent and pious plants him firmly in my good stead but there are other aspects of Beyond Good and Evil that are less than palatable and I would be grossly remiss if I did not acknowledge his shortcomings and hold him accountable.
“When we have to change an opinion about any one, we charge heavily to his account the inconvenience he thereby causes us.”
Here goes… Nietzsche was a chauvinist. He makes somewhat frequent references to the “uneducatability” of women and is repeatedly disparaging of their motives.
“From the beginning, nothing has been more alien, repugnant, and hostile to woman than truth - her great art is the lie, her highest concern is mere appearance and beauty.”
I suspect, based on that last statement, that the women within his social circle were primarily bourgeoisie. Still, I am reluctant to say that he was simply a product of his era (1844 - 1900), not because it’s inaccurate but because I have grown a little tired of doling out free passes. Nietzsche, like Aristotle and Kant and Hume, needs to take his lumps.
“Anyone who fights with monsters should take care that he does not in the process become a monster …if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes back into you.”
As usual, Nietzsche has religion, specifically christianity, squarely in his crosshairs:
“It is a curious thing that God learned Greek when he wished to turn author and that he did not learn it better.”
“One should not go into churches if one wishes to breathe pure air.”
Most times, Nietzsche’s lambasting of the reverent and pious plants him firmly in my good stead but there are other aspects of Beyond Good and Evil that are less than palatable and I would be grossly remiss if I did not acknowledge his shortcomings and hold him accountable.
“When we have to change an opinion about any one, we charge heavily to his account the inconvenience he thereby causes us.”
Here goes… Nietzsche was a chauvinist. He makes somewhat frequent references to the “uneducatability” of women and is repeatedly disparaging of their motives.
“From the beginning, nothing has been more alien, repugnant, and hostile to woman than truth - her great art is the lie, her highest concern is mere appearance and beauty.”
I suspect, based on that last statement, that the women within his social circle were primarily bourgeoisie. Still, I am reluctant to say that he was simply a product of his era (1844 - 1900), not because it’s inaccurate but because I have grown a little tired of doling out free passes. Nietzsche, like Aristotle and Kant and Hume, needs to take his lumps.
“Anyone who fights with monsters should take care that he does not in the process become a monster …if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes back into you.”