Political Science 411-01 Dr Drury: Nietzsche Natural Order

Through history great thinkers have influenced the development of society.  Generally thinkers of unconvential or unorthodox thinking have challenged the status quo on issues.  For example Nietzsche was a highly influential writer who touched on a wide array of controversial topics.  Are certain races suited to rule and others to follow?  Should the nobles govern a society or should the commoners?  Who defines morality of good and evil in a society the commoners or the nobles?  The central theme of inversion of order seems to plague the mind of Nietzsche.  How does religion & democracy facilitate the weak that govern the strong?  Only a correction in the natural order where the nobles rule the commoners will satisfy Nietzsche.  How did this inversion originate let us discuss in further detail.  First let us evaluate his original texts and extrapolate his thoughts and interpretations on various modes of thought. 

Dark Races versus Light Races

According to Nietzsche he classifies races into two categories light & dark.  For example “the Negro represents an earlier phase of human development”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]-->  Nietzsche has an extremely low perception of certain races one could even call him a racist or bigot by today’s conventions.  The blacks were a dark race considered absolutely inferior and a slave class compared to the light races.  This perception of blacks even in the 21-century is not always positive especially in countries like America.  Blacks are commonly perceived as criminals versus law-abiding citizens.  Racism has not disappeared in post-modern society.  As minorities continue to gain more rights in modern society, Nietzsche could argue that this is a strong example of the inversion of order.  For instance a controversial issue of affirmative action.  Some would argue this levels the playing field and provides opportunities for disadvantaged people to contribute positively to society.  A modern analogy would be having someone who is clearly unqualified beating out a qualified candidate to take the job.  This job could be of critical importance like governance of the state, which should be left to the nobles.  Nietzsche would argue that inferior races need to make laws to create the perception of equality, competence or superiority when none exist in the maters of governance or ruling.

 “Romans were the strongest and most noble people who ever lived.  The Jews on the contrary were the priestly rancorous nation par excellence”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[3]<!--[endif]-->  Nietzsche certainly believed in a natural hierarchy from the strongest to the weakest.  He worshiped certain races “ Roman, Arabian, German, Japanese nobility as for the Homeric heroes and the Scandinavian Vikings”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[4]<!--[endif]--> for their ability to dominate, rule, conquer and impose their will to power on other nations.  There culture, music, tragedy & values were the zenith of human thought according to Nietzsche.  These light races were destined to rule.

Nobility versus common rule

According to Nietzsche nobility versus commonality was a central theme in his understanding of the world.  Nobility has a historical definition “The basic concept is always noble in hierarchical, class sense and from this has developed by historical necessity, the concept good embracing nobility of mind, spirit distinction”. <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> [5]<!--[endif]-->  Nietzsche means that morals and values have been derived from the ruling class.  Historically they have created the morals of good and evil in a society.  Caesars, kings, generals, warlords, barons & sovereigns would be examples of nobles.  The rights of nobles has been expressed thru the origin of its meaning.  Either thru history, birthright, and divine right of kings or supremacy the nobles should have the right to determine what is right and wrong in society.  He clearly finds it disturbing that in today’s age of modernity that the commoners rule and not the nobles.  But how has this inversion of order occurred?

The common class would be considered poor, middle class, serfs and anyone else not considered noble.  Nietzsche comments on commoners “common, plebeian, base into the notion of bad.  Here we have an important clue to the actual genealogy of morals; that is has not been hit upon earlier due to the retarding influence which democratic prejudice has had upon all investigations of origins”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[6]<!--[endif]-->  This comment suggests that originally commoners were the inferiors to the natural order of things.  Nietzsche despises democracy and its values it exposes such as equality & tyranny of the majority. The inversion of order has resulted and democracy is one of the main causes where the commoners govern the nobles.

Judaism

Judaism plays a significant part in the understanding of Nietzsche’s hatred.  For example “It was the Jew who, with frightening consistency, dared to invert the aristocrat value equations good/noble/powerful/beautiful/happy/favoured of the gods and maintain, with the furious hatred of the underprivileged and impotent that only the poor the powerless are good; only the suffering, sick, and ugly, truly blessed”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[7]<!--[endif]-->  The Jewish religion allowed for these people who endured countless persecution to strive against the odds.  Not only did the Jews survive but also in some cases they thrived.  Throughout history Jews have been the scapegoats in Europe from the crusades, millenarian movements to WWII.  The Nazis were have said to been influenced by the writings of Nietzsche.  Also the music of Wagner was apparently played in concentration camps when genocide was being committed.  Even in the 21-century there is still strong anti-Semitic views against the state of Israel. Many nations in the Middle East have declared the Jews mortal enemies that must be destroyed.  The current state of Israel would be an example of an inversion of order in the Middle East according to Nietzsche instead the Arabians should rule.

Master versus Slave morality

Nietzsche hates the Jews because he perceives them as one of the primary catalysts and reasons for the inversion of morality.  The master morality has been replaced by the slave morality “It was the Jews who started the slave revolt in morals; a revolt with two millennia of history behind it, which we have lost sight of today simply because it has triumphed so completely”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[8]<!--[endif]--> illustrates the slaves ruling the masters now.  There religion of Judaism was the precursor template of Christianity that further accelerated the decline of the natural order according to Nietzsche.  The religion of Judaism & Christianity is very appealing to the masses.  The concept of original sin & holy cross are some examples of the power of the Jews; “What could be equal in debilitating narcotic power of the “holy cross”, the ghastly paradox of a crucified god, the unspeakably cruel mystery of Gods self-crucifixion for the benefit of mankind?  One thing is certain that in the sign Israel has by now triumphed over all, other noble values”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[9]<!--[endif]--> 

Paradox

Even when the Romans conquered the Jews & Christians they still won because the Romans adopted Christianity in the end and converted from the mythic gods to the new god a true paradox indeed.  Nietzsche argues the paradox “a tenet contrary to received opinion”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[10]<!--[endif]--> that why would a god sacrifice himself a superior being for the benefit of an inferior?  Greek & Roman myths would have not duplicated this reasoning because the gods & heroes were supreme.  This would be another example of an inversion of order and a contradiction according to Nietzsche.  Nietzsche concludes that the commoners have won and destroyed the noble values, which is a paradox; “Let us face facts: the people have triumphed or the slaves, the mob, the herd whatever you wish to call them and if the Jews brought it about, then no nation ever had a more universal mission on earth.  The lords are a thing of the past, and the ethics of the common man is completely triumphant”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[11]<!--[endif]-->  Here Nietzsche admits that the commoners have won thru religion over myth “ everything is becoming Judaized, or Christianized, or mob-ized the word makes no difference”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[12]<!--[endif]-->  Does Nietzsche have a point has myth, creativity and ingenuity of the elites been stifled by the masses vis-à-vis religion.

Mill the common versus the elite

Even John Stuart Mill once said regarding the masses “ but they are always a mass, this is to say of mediocrity”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[13]<!--[endif]-->.  The general masses just follow and not lead.  They don’t always innovate and create great change in society.  The elite or the exceptional few should be able to think and do as they wish according to Mill.  “ Most especially that exceptional individuals, instead of being detetered should be encouraged to act differently from the mass”. <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> [14]<!--[endif]-->  Even though Mill generally advocated equality he sees the problem that Nietzsche sees is that uniform thinking & beliefs can stifle the elite of society.  This inversion of order creates a climate where it is difficult for the elite, gifted or the exceptional to rule or have free reign.  It is often the one genius, noble or great leader who changes the world.  Newton, Caesar, Napoleon are all examples of great elites who changed the world forever for better or worse.  But what would have happened to civilization as we know it if these elite were not able to get their ways?  There is some merit in Nietzsche argument depending on your interpretation of elites versus the masses.

Conclusion

Therefore regardless of your interpretation of progress one cannot escape the inevitable.  Nietzsche was a racist and had firm beliefs about the superiority of certain light races over the dark races.  Democracy as a mode of governance is ludicrous in the mind of Nietzsche who would much prefer elite rule.  Elite rule is perceived as natural and justifiable according to Nietzsche.  The issue of master morality versus slave morality is because the masses have succeed in changing the natural order they have rewritten the rules of what is good and evil in society to the benefit of the majority.  The inversion of order is so complete that it seems natural now in today society.  However Nietzsche points out the past and origins of words & concepts have purpose for a reason.  Nietzsche perceives the decline of western civilization unless the natural order can be restored where the strong govern the weak.  Is this argument a paradox, it depends on your point of view if you would classify yourself as common or noble. 

Political Science 411-01 Dr Drury Bibliography

Nietzsche, Fredrick: The Birth of Tragedy & Genealogy of Morals 1844-1900

First Anchor Books Random House Inc 1956 New York

Mill, John Stuart: On Liberty 1806-1873

Hacket Publishing 1978 Indianapolis

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

<http://www.yourdictionary.com/cgi-bin/mw.cgi>

(Oct/2002)

Enclycopledia Britannica <http://www.britannica.com/search?miid=1102083&query=affirmative+action>

(Oct/2002)