Single Idea 4275

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / f. Compassion]

Full Idea

Pity and good cheer are complementary, ..so there is something contradictory in a philosophy that advocates joyful wisdom, while slandering pity as the enemy of the higher life.

Gist of Idea

You cannot advocate joyful wisdom while rejecting pity, because the two are complementary

Source

comment on Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882]) by Roger Scruton - Animal Rights and Wrongs p.35

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'Animal Rights and Wrongs' [Demos 1996], p.35


A Reaction

A good objection to Nietzsche. He has a rather solipsistic view of joyful exuberance etc., and fails to realise how social such things must be. In that, Nietzsche was caught in the romantic tradition of Wordsworth and co.