The Concept of Will to Power in Nietzsche’s Philosophy

The concept of will to power is central to the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. According to Nietzsche, the will to power is an integral part of all life phenomena, which cannot be squeezed into the framework of a philosophical category since it is broader than any category. According to the philosopher, the will to power is the constant affirmation of life and the realization of creative potential. Therefore, it opposes another will, which is limited by the existing and cannot transform it, leading to self-denial.

Nietzsche’s reactionary doctrine of the morality of masters and the morality of slaves is based on the fact that the inevitable components of human society are “masters” and “slaves.” People of humble morality value kindness, humility, and sympathy, while the morality of the master implies that he has pride, strength, and nobility. The moral of the masters evaluate actions based on whether the consequences were good or bad for the person who committed them. The morality of masters and the morality of slaves do not take into account human emotions.

Slave morality, on the other hand, evaluates actions according to good or evil intentions. According to Nietzsche, many biblical principles are part of such morality. The Bible teaches mercy, humility, and other forms of nonjudgment. This is a kind of moral code that a follower of slave thinking should follow. It has become dominant and is mistakenly perceived by the public consciousness as a synonym for morality in general.

Nietzsche’s primary concern was to explain how value could be a natural phenomenon and not something derived from God. The main thing for the philosopher is that faith in God is harmful, that this faith paralyzes and enslaves. Any religion appeared out of fear and need when people did not know anything about nature and its laws; everything was a manifestation of mystical forces. Nietzsche believed that Christianity at no point comes into contact with reality; there are entirely fictitious concepts in religion. The question of faith is related to the problem of morality, values, and human behavior. The meaning and purpose with which Nietzsche declared war on Christianity is the abolition of morality.

Instead of systematic doubt, Nietzsche used methodical denial, the diligent destruction of everything that allows nihilism to hide from itself, and the overthrow of idols that hide the death of God. Nihilism, according to Nietzsche, is a kind of intermediate state; it can be an expression of both the strength and weakness of a person and society. The philosopher reveals the essence of this concept, pointing to the connection between values and human nature.

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StudyCorgi. 2022. "The Concept of Will to Power in Nietzsche’s Philosophy." July 20, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-concept-of-will-to-power-in-nietzsches-philosophy/.

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