Nietzsche criticizes modern “free spirits,” including philosophers, as not genuinely free but slaves to democratic tastes and modern ideas.
These individuals belong among the “levelers,” people who reduce society to mediocrity and lack true nobility.
Modern society often loses intermediary structures, which leads to tyranny and mob rule.
The Fear of Populism
Nietzsche’s critique can be understood through the lens of the Tower of Babel, where society degenerates into a tyranny of the mob.
The left often fears populism because of its association with the “rabble,” despite supporting democracy.
Democracy requires responsibility and structures; without these, it risks degenerating into mob rule.
The Mob vs. Solitude
Modern individuals without solitude become part of the mob, losing their personal identity and nobility.
Nietzsche criticizes those who blame all human misery on old societal structures, suggesting a lack of gratitude for the past.
Rousseau vs. Hobbes: Human Nature and Society
Rousseauians believe human misery comes from societal structures and that humans are naturally good, corrupted by society.
Hobbesian view: The natural condition of humanity is privation, want, and misery; social order lifts us out of this.
Nietzsche aligns more with Hobbes, rejecting the view that humans are innately good.
Ingratitude Toward the Past
Modern society shows ingratitude toward past societal structures, failing to recognize the benefits and sacrifices made.
Nietzsche warns that blanket condemnation of the past is arrogant, as it assumes moral superiority over previous generations.
He also critiques how art museums and commentators reduce the work of geniuses to mere critiques of power structures, missing the beauty and heroism of their work.
The Spirit of Ressentiment
Nietzsche introduces the concept of ressentiment, where people tear down greatness out of bitterness and envy.
This is seen in modern protests, such as individuals gluing themselves to great works of art, assuming moral superiority in their actions.
The Dangers of Anti-Truth and Morality
Modern ideologies that claim past societal forms are the cause of all misery invert the truth and breed moral pretension.
These ideologies give people a false sense of moral superiority, allowing them to justify destructive actions.
The Will Behind Ideas and Ideologies
Ideas as Sub-personalities
Nietzsche sees ideas as sub-personalities, with motivations, emotions, and actions. A collection of ideas forms a personality.
Ideologies, such as Marxism or environmentalism, act like spirits or sub-personalities with a will of their own.
The unfolding of ideologies leads to logical conclusions, as seen in the Marxist-Leninist system, which inevitably led to catastrophic consequences.
The World Economic Forum and Population
Nietzsche’s analysis leads to questions about modern movements, such as the World Economic Forum’s ethos regarding population control.
The idea that the planet can only sustain a limited number of people is anti-humanist and possibly genocidal.
The Luciferian Intellect and the Herd
The Universal Green-Pasture Happiness of the Herd
Nietzsche criticizes the pursuit of universal security, comfort, and ease, which he associates with the herd mentality.
The goal of life should not be ease but adventure, striving, and personal growth.
Safety and security are preconditions for life, but not its ultimate aim.
The Good Mother and Sacrifice
Nietzsche uses the archetype of the mother to explain the necessity of sacrifice. A mother must allow her child to face the dangers of the world.
The good mother “fails” in that her goal is to raise a child who no longer needs her.
Optimized Difficulty Over Comfort
Raising children requires exposing them to optimized difficulty rather than pure comfort.
Challenges are necessary for development, and parents must push their children to the edge of their capabilities.
Suffering as Necessary for Growth
Nietzsche warns against the modern desire to abolish suffering entirely. Suffering is a necessary condition for growth and transformation.
Compassion must be balanced with the need to encourage people to confront and overcome their suffering.
The Danger of Compassion and Nihilism
The Misuse of Compassion
Excessive compassion, especially when misapplied, can become anti-life and anti-being.
Nietzsche criticizes the modern identification of compassion with the highest moral virtue, noting that it can lead to the destruction of individuality and strength.
Anti-Natalism and Nihilism
Modern movements that discourage having children reflect an anti-life stance similar to the nihilism expressed by Mephistopheles in Faust.
Nietzsche sees this as a dangerous trajectory that leads to genocidal and destructive ideologies.
Compassion vs. Encouragement
Nietzsche differentiates between maternal compassion and paternal encouragement.
True compassion involves encouraging individuals to face suffering and hardship, not shielding them from it.
The Role of Ideals and Judgment
The Need for Ideals
Ideals serve as judges, reminding individuals of their inadequacies and pushing them toward growth.
Nietzsche argues that we should not tear down ideals because they make people feel judged; instead, we should strive toward them, recognizing our limitations.
The Sacrifice of Inadequacy
Rather than eliminating suffering or inadequacy, Nietzsche advocates for being grateful for the challenges presented by ideals.
Pursuing ideals gives life meaning and unites individuals in shared goals.
Equality and Suffering
Equality of Rights vs. Equality of Outcome
Nietzsche critiques modern notions of equality, particularly the conflation of equality of rights with equality of outcome.
He sees suffering as something that cannot be abolished and suggests that noble suffering is essential to human existence.
Voluntary Confrontation of Suffering
Nietzsche advocates for the voluntary confrontation of suffering as a path to bravery and strength.
This approach, found in many schools of psychotherapy, teaches individuals to face fears and challenges at a manageable pace to foster growth.
The Danger of the Nanny State and Comfort
The Infantilization of Society
Nietzsche warns against the “nanny state,” which prioritizes comfort and security at the expense of adventure and personal growth.
Individuals, especially children, need to be exposed to danger and challenges to develop their full potential.
Suffering in a Noble Cause
Suffering is inevitable, but Nietzsche believes it can be meaningful if it is in pursuit of a noble cause.
Modern society’s obsession with abolishing suffering leads to nihilism and destructive ideologies.
Conclusion: The Need for a Noble Life
Nietzsche emphasizes the importance of striving for greatness, confronting suffering, and rejecting the comfort-driven values of modern society.
True compassion involves encouraging individuals to face their suffering, not shielding them from it.
Ideals serve as a necessary guide, pushing individuals toward personal growth and meaning in life.
