Nietzsche

Nietzsche

1. Influenced by Schopenhauer to find meaning in a Godless world

   • We can no longer justify our belief in God
     • Ubermensch lets us think for ourselves.
       • What is good? All that empowers us. What is bad? All that proceeds from weakness.
   • Knowledge comes from perspective therefore no objectivity.
   • Individual aspiration should be encouraged, finding meaning without God
     • Wille zur macht
     • Be your own experience

2. God is dead, no absolutes. Christianity having less followers leads to downfall of moral religious authority

   • God is dead in modern society. The value religion used to place upon our lives no longer provides us with the purpose it once did.
   • Death of God = free to do what you want
     • Freedom can be a burden but also has the power to liberate individuals from social contraints

3. Gott ist tot

   • God is no longer the ultimate basis on which Western culture is based.
     • Abandonment of religion undermines Western culture, because the world can function well without a divine being.
   • Nietzsche's Will to Power could be one reason for claiming the death of God
   • All about individuality, no objective realm.
   • After the death of God we should rid ourselves of Christian ethics
     • Notion of sympathy and compassion makes us weak.

4. Substitute ubermensch for God to prevent nihilism and create new values

   • We shouldn't be determined by outside forces. Life is for making.

5. Christian belief system is a reaction to life, therefore destructive.

   • New values of the ubermensch will be life affirming and creative
   • Christian culture is the cause of nihilism
   • Religion is born out of fear and need. Death of God removes need of religion.
   • Christianity = religion of pity.