Nietzsche's declaration of 'God is dead' was a diagnosis of the collapse of traditional Christian values and the ensuing loss of absolute moral values in society.
Nietzsche's aristocratic radicalism called for a militant secularism that acknowledged the inherent inequalities among individuals and rejected the Christian foundation of egalitarianism.
Nietzsche's critique of Christianity and egalitarianism challenges the assumption that progressivism is a rejection of religion and tradition, suggesting that it can tap into the power of religiously rooted values to advance more progressive causes.
Deep dives
The Death of God and Nietzsche's Critique of Egalitarianism
Nietzsche's famous declaration thatGod is dead is often misunderstood as a celebration of nihilism or atheism. However, Nietzsche was actually diagnosing the collapse of the traditional Christian worldview and the profound crisis it would unleash on society. He argued that the death of God would lead to a loss of absolute moral values, the collapse of the Christian ethic of equality, and the emergence of new forms of nihilism and destructive ideologies. Nietzsche believed that the foundations for equality, democracy, and liberalism were rooted in the Christian ethic and without a religious basis, these ideals would crumble. He saw the death of God as a cataclysmic political event that required a profound reevaluation of human values and the establishment of new, more realistic and hierarchical social structures.
Nietzsche's Radicalism and the Right-Wing Appropriation
Contrary to popular belief, Nietzsche was not an advocate for nihilism or an opponent of all forms of tradition and hierarchy. He critiqued the Christian ethic of equality, but he also challenged the conservative notion of preserving tradition without engaging in transformative change. Nietzsche's aristocratic radicalism called for a militant secularism that acknowledged and embraced the inherent inequalities among individuals. He believed that a commitment to secularism was necessary to confront the crisis brought on by the death of God and to reject the Christian foundation of egalitarianism. Nietzsche's ideas have been embraced by various right-wing thinkers, but his radicalism goes beyond their usual conservative agenda, urging for a complete reevaluation of traditional values and the establishment of a new social order based on hierarchy.
Nietzsche's Challenge to Contemporary Progressivism
Nietzsche's critique of Christianity and egalitarianism has important implications for contemporary progressivism. It challenges the assumption that progressivism is a rejection of religion and tradition. Nietzsche argues that progressivism is, in fact, an extension of the Christian ethic and that it can tap into the power of religiously rooted values to advance more progressive causes. He points to figures like Martin Luther King Jr., who embraced Christian principles to advocate for economic democracy and the elimination of racial hierarchies. Nietzsche suggests that the left has the opportunity to harness the power of Christian values in a more radical and transformative way, aligning its progressive agenda with a reevaluation of human values beyond traditional religious frameworks.
Nietzsche's View on Human Nature and the Search for Absolutes
Nietzsche believed that human beings have a natural thirst for absolutes and a desire for certainty. He anticipated that with the decline of religious faith, people would seek new anchors of identity in political religions such as nationalism, communism, or fascism. Nietzsche himself recognized the need for faith and myth-making, as seen in his writings on the Superman or the Overman who would bring meaning to human life. However, Nietzsche also acknowledged the tension between his desire for a truthful, illusion-free worldview and the realization that individuals cannot live without some form of belief system. This clash between competing impulses is a recurring theme in his texts.
Nietzsche's Critique of Democracy and Advocacy for Inequality
Nietzsche held a profound contempt for democracy and egalitarianism, seeing them as forces that leveled higher values and reduced human beings to an animalistic level. He rejected the Christian idea of human equality and the emphasis on compassion for human weakness. Nietzsche advocated for an aristocratic radicalism that celebrated inequality and hierarchy, where great individuals would lead and exploit the lower orders. This rejection of liberal democracy and the embrace of inequality make Nietzsche a controversial figure, as his ideas have been misappropriated by far-right movements. However, it is essential to critically analyze his philosophy and recognize the potential dangers of his embrace of violence, exploitation, and radical forms of inequality.
Sean Illing talks with political science professor Matt McManus about the political thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th-century German philosopher with a complicated legacy, despite his crossover into popular culture. They discuss how Nietzsche's work has been interpreted — and misinterpreted — since his death in 1900, how his radical political views emerge from his body of work, and how we can use Nietzsche's philosophy in order to interpret some key features of our contemporary politics.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
Referenced works by Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900):
Ecce Homo (1888; published posthumously), Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883), Beyond Good and Evil (1886), Twilight of the Idols (1888), The Birth of Tragedy (1872), The Antichrist (1888; published posthumously), The Gay Science (1882)
“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?” from Nietzsche's The Gay Science, §125 (1882; tr. W. Kaufmann)
