Christopher Gandy

CEP 461

Reading Assignment 14

Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

In this reading Nietzsche offers some of his arguments about morality, but much of his focus
is Plato and Kant. What arguments does he make about Plato and Kant? How does the 'will
to truth' factor in to those arguments? How might those arguments shed light on
Nietzsches position on morality? Make sure to refer to the text in support of your answer.

He sees them as playing on words, grammar, and that their dogma is

dangerous (p.2) as they pose as a big maybe (p.10) via logics fiction towards
invented worlds (12). They both have drives, as everyone does, and that drive
wants to be master and it tends to philosophize that spirit (14). Morality showcases
who they are, not what nature is. Morals sit inside of the will, and should be
included in it (p.27). Their ideals lead them to recognition of their will, not a
discovery (p.27). Nature is themselves and what they must be (15). A living being
merely seeks to discharge its strength, and Platos way of thinking shows that he
wills a certain type of life: a noble way of thinking and a resistance to sense
evidence (22). It is their pride that decides to impose their morality, their ideal, on
nature (15): or rather, their ego.
Nietzsche finds objective, empirical data to be that of nature; and for us to
not go beyond our boundaries of knowledge in assumptions, to be scientific in our
pursuit of truth. Nietzsche is anti-egoist, as he hopes that we will get along without
(it, p.24), as the ego creates idealism that can ignore sensations (which go hand in
hand with the following the nature of ones will (p.26)) thus, undercutting discovery.
In terms of morals, life is a matter of strong and weak wills (29), and what is right
could be the negatives in life; it depends on who can execute their will (p.31). Weak
wills will set up restrictions, e.g the religion of human suffering, on strong wills (30).

Christopher Gandy

CEP 461

Reading Assignment 14

Nietzsche appears nihilistic and objective. An idealistic ego limits senses, which go
hand in hand with accepting ones nature, and discovery..