Nietzsche and SartreNietzsche and Sartre

Nietzsche on TeleologyNietzsche on Teleology

Nietzsche’s Critique of ChristianityNietzsche’s Critique of Christianity

Sartre on Human NatureSartre on Human Nature

Thick vs. Thin Conceptions of NatureThick vs. Thin Conceptions of Nature

NietzscheNietzsche

• Nietzshe, Plato and AristotleNietzshe, Plato and Aristotle

• Natural vs. Supernatural ValuesNatural vs. Supernatural Values

• Nietzsche’s Critique of Faith, Hope & Nietzsche’s Critique of Faith, Hope & LoveLove

• An Evaluation of Nietzsche’s CritiqueAn Evaluation of Nietzsche’s Critique

Nietzsche, Plato and AristotleNietzsche, Plato and Aristotle

Teleology in NietzscheTeleology in Nietzsche

• Nietzsche, like Plato and Aristotle, has a Nietzsche, like Plato and Aristotle, has a teleological conception of human teleological conception of human nature.nature.

• The final cause, natural end = a The final cause, natural end = a complete life, lived according to instinct complete life, lived according to instinct & natural wisdom& natural wisdom

Evidences of teleologyEvidences of teleology1. Contrast between health and sickness, 1. Contrast between health and sickness,

advancing life and decadence.advancing life and decadence.– Applied to our mental, spiritual life, as well Applied to our mental, spiritual life, as well

as to ordinary physiology.as to ordinary physiology.– Compare Plato's use of the same metaphor Compare Plato's use of the same metaphor

in the in the GorgiasGorgias..

2. Human life is guided by instincts, drives, 2. Human life is guided by instincts, drives, whose purpose is to move us toward a whose purpose is to move us toward a complete, fully human existence.complete, fully human existence.

Nietzsche on the Classical Nietzsche on the Classical VirtuesVirtues

• The word virtue in Greek (arete) and The word virtue in Greek (arete) and Latin has a meaning that isn't limited to Latin has a meaning that isn't limited to morality. Any kind of strength or morality. Any kind of strength or competency (like intelligence, wit, competency (like intelligence, wit, strength, endurance) would count as a strength, endurance) would count as a "virtue"."virtue".

• Moral virtues are those virtues that Moral virtues are those virtues that concern one's character, one's capacity concern one's character, one's capacity for rational choice and action.for rational choice and action.

Seven "cardinal virtues"Seven "cardinal virtues"Natural:Natural:

– CourageCourage– Temperance (self-control, moderation)Temperance (self-control, moderation)– Practical wisdom (prudence)Practical wisdom (prudence)– JusticeJustice

Supernatural:Supernatural:– FaithFaith– HopeHope– Love (charity)Love (charity)

Nietzsche’s AttitudeNietzsche’s Attitude

• Nietzsche says nothing against the Nietzsche says nothing against the natural virtues. In fact, he repeatedly natural virtues. In fact, he repeatedly affirms them.affirms them.– Example: N.'s attitude toward marriage (p. Example: N.'s attitude toward marriage (p.

104). The essence of marriage is the 104). The essence of marriage is the indissoluble bond between man & woman.indissoluble bond between man & woman.

• His attack is restricted to the His attack is restricted to the supernatural (Christian) virtues.supernatural (Christian) virtues.

Faith, Hope & CharityFaith, Hope & Charity

• Faith = unreason, dogmatismFaith = unreason, dogmatism

• Hope = other-worldiness, denial of Hope = other-worldiness, denial of senses, bodysenses, body

• Love = equality, pity, rejection of Love = equality, pity, rejection of distinction, hierarchy & authoritydistinction, hierarchy & authority

FaithFaith

• N. sees the discipline of faith as being N. sees the discipline of faith as being destructive of reason & science.destructive of reason & science.

• Trains us to believe things we cannot Trains us to believe things we cannot verify or understand.verify or understand.

• The scientific mind is based in doubt, in The scientific mind is based in doubt, in independence from tradition and independence from tradition and authority.authority.

HopeHope

• The hope for eternal life causes a The hope for eternal life causes a devaluation of this life.devaluation of this life.

• Necessarily results in hostility to Necessarily results in hostility to pleasure, especially sexual pleasure.pleasure, especially sexual pleasure.

• The fiction of eternal life is rooted in a The fiction of eternal life is rooted in a hatred of the actual world.hatred of the actual world.

Consequences of Consequences of OtherworldinessOtherworldiness

Health and earthly life are denied, Health and earthly life are denied, denigrated:denigrated:– Deny yourselfDeny yourself– Take up your crossTake up your cross– Crucify the flesh and its desiresCrucify the flesh and its desires– If your eye offends you, pluck it outIf your eye offends you, pluck it out

LoveLove

• Unconditional, universal love obliterates Unconditional, universal love obliterates all distinctions. Nullifies all principles of all distinctions. Nullifies all principles of selectivity: "integrity, intelligence, selectivity: "integrity, intelligence, manliness, pride, beauty and liberality of manliness, pride, beauty and liberality of heart"heart"

• This leads to the political ideals of This leads to the political ideals of democracy and equality, by which the democracy and equality, by which the strong are hobbled by the masses.strong are hobbled by the masses.

PityPity

• Pity enables the weak and sickly to Pity enables the weak and sickly to survive, and makes their weakness survive, and makes their weakness contagious.contagious.

The concept of "power" in The concept of "power" in NietzscheNietzsche

• Not simply identical to political power, or Not simply identical to political power, or the domination of othersthe domination of others

• Compare the treatment of "true power" Compare the treatment of "true power" in Plato's in Plato's GorgiasGorgias and in Boethius. and in Boethius.

• Power = the capacity to live well.Power = the capacity to live well.

Power vs. Political PowerPower vs. Political Power

• Political power is neither necessary nor Political power is neither necessary nor sufficient for "power":sufficient for "power":

• Not necessary: a creative loner can be Not necessary: a creative loner can be powerful, even though politics, social life powerful, even though politics, social life are avoided.are avoided.

• Not sufficient: a politician who rules by Not sufficient: a politician who rules by being inoffensive, likeable, demogoguic being inoffensive, likeable, demogoguic can be lacking in true power.can be lacking in true power.

Power in PoliticsPower in Politics

• However, power can be exercised in the However, power can be exercised in the political sphere. political sphere.

• When it is, the powerful human will be When it is, the powerful human will be realistic, cunning, masterful, realistic, cunning, masterful, authoritative. authoritative.

• Like Machiavelli's ideal prince.Like Machiavelli's ideal prince.

Evaluation of Nietzsche's Evaluation of Nietzsche's CritiqueCritique

• G. K. Chesterton: Christian values are G. K. Chesterton: Christian values are attacked for opposite reasons.attacked for opposite reasons.

• E.g., Nietzsche vs. post-modern E.g., Nietzsche vs. post-modern multiculturalist.multiculturalist.

Contrasting CritiquesContrasting Critiques

Nietzsche Multiculturalist

Effeminate, emasculating

Sexist, patriarchal

Destroys distinctions

Elitist, anti-egalitarian

Destroys hierarchies

Sustains hierarchy

Favors poor, weak

Favors rich, strong

IrrationalLogocentric, worships reason

FaithFaith

• Christians have been extreme Christians have been extreme rationalists, extreme irrationalists, and rationalists, extreme irrationalists, and everything in between.everything in between.

• Rationalism: Aquinas, LeibnizRationalism: Aquinas, Leibniz

• Those who emphasize the tensions Those who emphasize the tensions between faith and reason:between faith and reason:– Tertullian, Luther, Kierkegaard.Tertullian, Luther, Kierkegaard.

Faith vs. ReasonFaith vs. Reason

• Even in Tertullian & Luther, reason is Even in Tertullian & Luther, reason is encouraged as good in itself, bad only encouraged as good in itself, bad only when in conflict with faith.when in conflict with faith.

• Kierkegaard: faith presupposes a Kierkegaard: faith presupposes a vigorous, active reason, and does not vigorous, active reason, and does not damage it.damage it.

Hope & This WorldHope & This World

• Again, we find a broad spectrum. Again, we find a broad spectrum.

• Some extreme asceticism: desert Some extreme asceticism: desert fathers in Egypt.fathers in Egypt.

• For the most part: moderation.For the most part: moderation.

• Example: the Example: the Song of SongsSong of Songs, a poetic , a poetic celebration of physical love in Bible.celebration of physical love in Bible.

Does hope for eternity Does hope for eternity necessarily devalue this life?necessarily devalue this life?

• Kierkegaard argued that the opposite is Kierkegaard argued that the opposite is true.true.

• The double movement of faith: first away The double movement of faith: first away from this world, and then back to it.from this world, and then back to it.

• Everything we do takes on infinite Everything we do takes on infinite significance because done significance because done coram Dei coram Dei (in the presence of, and for the glory of, (in the presence of, and for the glory of, God).God).

Eternity vs. Eternal RecurrenceEternity vs. Eternal Recurrence

• Without hope for eternity, this world Without hope for eternity, this world becomes meaningless, insignificant.becomes meaningless, insignificant.

• Nietzsche recognized this problem, and Nietzsche recognized this problem, and tried to cope with it through his myth of tried to cope with it through his myth of eternal recurrence.eternal recurrence.

• Everything that happens will happen Everything that happens will happen over and over again infinitely often. So, over and over again infinitely often. So, your actions take on infinite significance.your actions take on infinite significance.

Problem for Eternal RecurrenceProblem for Eternal Recurrence

• But -- the path not taken now will But -- the path not taken now will presumably be taken infinitely often also presumably be taken infinitely often also -- so everything is leveled out.-- so everything is leveled out.

• It doesn’t matter which path I choose It doesn’t matter which path I choose this time -- they will all be chosen this time -- they will all be chosen infinitely often.infinitely often.

Love & InequalityLove & Inequality

• Mainstream Christian theology seeks to Mainstream Christian theology seeks to maintain both an ultimate equality and a maintain both an ultimate equality and a provisional, this-worldly inequality.provisional, this-worldly inequality.

• All humans are of equal (infinite) value, All humans are of equal (infinite) value, but we have unequal functions and but we have unequal functions and status in this world.status in this world.

Slavery & ChristianitySlavery & Christianity

• This is why slavery was a difficult and This is why slavery was a difficult and disputed question.disputed question.

• Had it been readily justified and Had it been readily justified and accepted, the post-modernists would accepted, the post-modernists would have been right.have been right.

• Had it been universally and immediately Had it been universally and immediately repealed, Nietzsche would have been repealed, Nietzsche would have been right.right.

Is compassion for the weak (pity) Is compassion for the weak (pity) necessarily destructive of health necessarily destructive of health

and strength?and strength?• Suppose compassion is combined with Suppose compassion is combined with

a demand for responsibility and self-a demand for responsibility and self-development? development?

• What if a duty of gratitude and What if a duty of gratitude and reciprocity is recognized?reciprocity is recognized?

• ““Love your enemies,” but “Don’t throw Love your enemies,” but “Don’t throw your pearls before swine”your pearls before swine”

Sartre on Human NatureSartre on Human Nature• There is an apparent inconsistency in There is an apparent inconsistency in

Sartre.Sartre.

• On one hand, he says that there is no On one hand, he says that there is no such thing as human nature or a human such thing as human nature or a human essence, and consequently there are no essence, and consequently there are no "a priori" values."a priori" values.

• That is, there exist no values prior to our That is, there exist no values prior to our choice of a "configuration" for our life.choice of a "configuration" for our life.

Universal value?Universal value?

• On the other hand, Sartre affirms the On the other hand, Sartre affirms the existence of a universal human existence of a universal human condition, and he derives from this condition, and he derives from this condition a number of universal, a priori condition a number of universal, a priori values:values:– 1. Truth/rationality/honesty. (p. 44) These 1. Truth/rationality/honesty. (p. 44) These

are not "moral" values, but they clearly are not "moral" values, but they clearly involve a value judgment.involve a value judgment.

Universal values, cont.Universal values, cont.

• 2. Responsibility/ethical consistency. 2. Responsibility/ethical consistency. The Golden RuleThe Golden Rule

• If we claim rights for ourselves that we If we claim rights for ourselves that we do not acknowledge for others, we do not acknowledge for others, we suffer an "uneasy conscience".suffer an "uneasy conscience".

More universal valuesMore universal values

• 3. Freedom. (p. 46)3. Freedom. (p. 46)"...he can no longer want but one thing, and "...he can no longer want but one thing, and

that is freedom, as the basis of all values."that is freedom, as the basis of all values."

"I am obliged to want others to have freedom "I am obliged to want others to have freedom at the same time I want my own freedom."at the same time I want my own freedom."

• Freedom plays the role for Sartre that Freedom plays the role for Sartre that eudaemonia plays for Aristotle, or the eudaemonia plays for Aristotle, or the Tao for Lewis.Tao for Lewis.

Universal valuesUniversal values

• 4. Unity, harmony, correspondence to 4. Unity, harmony, correspondence to reality. (pp. 42-43; the analogy to art)reality. (pp. 42-43; the analogy to art)

Absurdity of Self-CreationAbsurdity of Self-Creation

In addition, the radical negation of human In addition, the radical negation of human nature is absurd:nature is absurd:

Nothing can create itself from Nothing can create itself from nothingness: to create anything, the self nothingness: to create anything, the self must already exist. Hence, the self must already exist. Hence, the self cannot create itself.cannot create itself.

How to Interpret Sartre?How to Interpret Sartre?

• Most charitable interpretation is to take Most charitable interpretation is to take the earlier, negative statements as the earlier, negative statements as hyperbole (intentional exaggeration for hyperbole (intentional exaggeration for effect).effect).

• We have a human nature, and that We have a human nature, and that human nature is the basis for value.human nature is the basis for value.

• What, then, is Sartre What, then, is Sartre rejectingrejecting??

Thick vs. Thin Conceptions of Thick vs. Thin Conceptions of Human NatureHuman Nature

• Key: story of the young man and the Key: story of the young man and the ResistanceResistance

• Thick conception of human nature Thick conception of human nature (Aristotle): we can find a definite (Aristotle): we can find a definite answer, by consulting human nature answer, by consulting human nature and the young man's concrete situation.and the young man's concrete situation.

• Which action will in fact most fully Which action will in fact most fully realize that nature?realize that nature?

A Straw Man?A Straw Man?• Straw man version of this view: we can find Straw man version of this view: we can find

a mechanical recipe for doing this. a mechanical recipe for doing this. • Some eudaemonistic calculating device.Some eudaemonistic calculating device.• This is clearly not Aristotle's position: This is clearly not Aristotle's position:

discerning what to do requires the virtue of discerning what to do requires the virtue of prudence or practical wisdom.prudence or practical wisdom.

• Practical wisdom cannot be reduced to a set Practical wisdom cannot be reduced to a set of instructions. It requires the exercising of of instructions. It requires the exercising of sound judgment.sound judgment.

Sartre’s Thin ConceptionSartre’s Thin Conception

• What Sartre is clearly rejecting is this What Sartre is clearly rejecting is this thick conception of human nature.thick conception of human nature.

• Thin conception of human nature: we Thin conception of human nature: we have a human nature, and it does have a human nature, and it does provide a basis for value, but it also provide a basis for value, but it also suffers from considerable suffers from considerable indeterminacy.indeterminacy.

Implications of the Thin Implications of the Thin ConceptionConception

• There are many questions of value and of There are many questions of value and of decision for which human nature provides no decision for which human nature provides no answer. answer.

• We can We can partiallypartially define ourselves: fill in the define ourselves: fill in the blank slots in our nature through our own blank slots in our nature through our own decisions.decisions.

• Human nature itself gives us the capacity and Human nature itself gives us the capacity and the responsibility of doing so.the responsibility of doing so.

The Young Man and the The Young Man and the ResistanceResistance

• Sartre is claiming that all the ethical Sartre is claiming that all the ethical insight and practical wisdom in the insight and practical wisdom in the world does not suffice to justify a unique world does not suffice to justify a unique solution to the young man's dilemma.solution to the young man's dilemma.

Sartre vs. KierkegaardSartre vs. Kierkegaard

• Kierkegaard anticipated this problem, Kierkegaard anticipated this problem, and Sartre's solution, in and Sartre's solution, in The Sickness The Sickness Unto DeathUnto Death..

• According to Kierkegaard, it is precisely According to Kierkegaard, it is precisely dilemmas like the young man's that dilemmas like the young man's that provide us the opportunity of becoming provide us the opportunity of becoming an individual self.an individual self.

• In the absence of such dilemmas, In the absence of such dilemmas, human beings are merely stamped out human beings are merely stamped out by the cookie cutter of human nature, by the cookie cutter of human nature, universal ethics. We are different only to universal ethics. We are different only to the extent that we are defective.the extent that we are defective.

Kierkegaard’s Critique of SartreKierkegaard’s Critique of Sartre

• The problem lies in the temporality of The problem lies in the temporality of the self. I change through time, and the self. I change through time, and since my individuality is not yet fully since my individuality is not yet fully formed, there is an element of caprice, formed, there is an element of caprice, accident and arbitrariness to these accident and arbitrariness to these changes.changes.

• I cannot now bind myself in the future. I cannot now bind myself in the future.

• Consequently, my attempts to form Consequently, my attempts to form myself into an individual must fail.myself into an individual must fail.

• The individual choices by which I define The individual choices by which I define myself cannot cohere into a single unity.myself cannot cohere into a single unity.

Temporality and EternityTemporality and Eternity

• To use the analogy to a work of art: I To use the analogy to a work of art: I am like a mural, each part of which is am like a mural, each part of which is painted by a different artist. The overall painted by a different artist. The overall work lacks unity, continuity.work lacks unity, continuity.

• In contrast, God is eternal, timeless. If I In contrast, God is eternal, timeless. If I can discern His will for my life, the result can discern His will for my life, the result will be a life that is simultaneously will be a life that is simultaneously unified and unique.unified and unique.