Nietzsche defined master morality as the morality of the strong-willed. The good is the the strong and powerful, while the bad is the weak and the helpless. The qualities of master morality are things such as courage, truthfulness, trust, having self worth. "The essence of master morality is nobility." The noble man does not seek approval from others. The strong value themselves. They know that what is harmful to themselves is harmful in itself. We should all aspire to be "strong." We do not need slave-morality mentality. We can not shy away from the strong, but we must become the strong. I agree. If this world had more brave, courageous, strong people that stopped looking for others affirmation then we would all be living a happier more fulfilling life for ourselves. The weak shy away from the strong, but the weak need to become the strong in their own way. Today for example we see the wealthy as the strong and powerful, and the poor want to immediately say the wealthy should pay more taxes. Why? Why should the wealthy have to pay more just because they worked hard and made more money? It is their money. The weak should stop complaining and rise up and become strong themselves. Everyone has their own strengths, find them and use them to your advantage. Do not be weak minded. If you don't believe you have a strength; build one, create one. Everyone has something they are good at. Some kind of strength. People need to use their strengths and the more people use them the more successful they will be.
While I agree with your notion that it is irrational for the strong to lesser themselves to in order the conform to the weak, I disagree with your theory that the weak should simply "stop complaining" and aspire to become strong themselves in a field of their choosing. Realistically, while some individuals may possess a certain talent, most people will never rise above the mediocrity of general populous. Essentially, I am saying that I agree that these individuals should work towards creating a strength of their own, but the outcome is not as important. As long as they have a goal in mind, and are striving to better themselves, that is enough. It is not as if everyone can simply be strong by willing it; if that were the case, then everyone would be strong. While I tend to agree with your way of thinking, I cannot help but question the feasibility of implementing such practices.
ReplyDeleteIt is very easy for me to agree with the points you make about the need for more "strong" people. When everyone is out being the best version of themselves and having a mentality that complements this, there will be many positive repercussions. If everyone is too scared to act out or get things done it will be easier to fall into a mindset that just waiting around and thinking you aren't good enough is an acceptable way to live.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your point on the money. If i work hard for my money and become successful, why should i be taxed more than someone who does not work. The strong show their strengths as a strength, but the weak see this as being evil. The sheep and the prey example of this how the sheep see the strong as overpowering them because they are weak. But this is not the case. The strong are acting strong because they are. The weak should not get mad but improve and become strong like you said. I agree with your argument completely.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Nietzsche, the weak can't be anything but weak, so I don't think that they can just do whatever because it is a mindset. You kind of get there a little bit by saying that they should not be "weak minded," but you don't really address that. It takes completely reworking the mindset of a person in order for a weak person to become a strong person. The slave-revolt mindset is taking something from good and bad to good and evil, which is way more extreme but also give morality.
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree that the world needs to get rid of the slave-revolt mindset and become a world of strong people. The world would definitely be a better place, but I also feel like this is also an impossible possibility.
I agree that the world would be a better place if more people were strong. However, it seems as if the strong would define themselves and not care what anybody else thinks, even if it hurts others. If other people are able to counter their beliefs then they too are strong, and woe to the weak who are trampled underfoot. In the end we would be left with only the strong, being led by the uberminch, the ideal man. Thus the world would be a perfect utopia of happiness not because people strove for happiness but because it is a byproduct. As for the money distribution problem, I believe there is a difference between being poor and being broke. It is a simple mindset change and if everyone took it then the world would be very different.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the slave-revolt morality and their ressentiment is hypocrisy. How can the weak tell the strong to be weaker or not be as strong. By doing so, the weak technically have power and a sense of strength. Being manipulative and having that ideology of saying "I hate that because I am weak," it is obvious to see why the weak is still weak and are "bad" in the eyes of noble morality. I do not think that being weak or strong has anything to do with leadership because there are both good and bad leaders, persuasive or demanding, strong or weak (intellectually, or physically), and such. I think, or at least in Nietzsche's explanation of morality, that the line that separates the two is the idea of one another. For example, If a person is physically strong, or undoubtedly healthy, it is clear - and most would agree - that this certain state is better than being physically weak, crippled, or ill. The noble morality understands this and accepts the bad for what they are. However, the weak, on the other hand, would argue that such strong or healthy person is evil because they are advantageous in life in comparison to the weak. The weak use this hatred and God to justify their place amongst the powerful. It's hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your example and most of the comments above about taxes and money. The strong have earned that money through their strengths (for the most part, some individuals inherited and worked just as hard as the "weak") and the weak should not be allowed to pray on this. I think strength shouldn't be measured in income however, I believe a "strength" in an individual is the ability to be charitable no matter how much they have earned. This humility should be a sign of strength. The weak should find a strength they excel instead of accusing the strong as the source of their problems.
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