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Single Idea 4504
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 7. Existential Action
]
Full Idea
Formerly one employed morality for preservation: but nobody wants to preserve any longer, there is nothing to preserve. Therefore an experimental morality: to give oneself a goal.
Gist of Idea
Morality used to be for preservation, but now we can only experiment, giving ourselves moral goals
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §260)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.150
A Reaction
This strikes me as the essence of Nietzsche, and the relativist position. Exciting and dangerous. Let's kill someone (Gide). Take drugs (Manson). Betray friends (Genet). Be altruistic…?
The
17 ideas
with the same theme
[existentialist attitude to decisions and ethics]:
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22027
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Life isn't given to us like a novel - we write the novel
[Novalis]
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20747
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What matters is not right choice, but energy, earnestness and pathos in the choosing
[Kierkegaard]
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16001
|
Life may be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards
[Kierkegaard]
|
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24079
|
The best life is the dangerous life
[Nietzsche]
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4504
|
Morality used to be for preservation, but now we can only experiment, giving ourselves moral goals
[Nietzsche]
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20106
|
Nietzsche was fascinated by a will that can turn against itself
[Nietzsche, by Safranski]
|
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20316
|
Every decision I make moves towards or away from fulfilled Existenz
[Jaspers]
|
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6571
|
When a man must choose between his mother and the Resistance, no theory can help
[Sartre, by Fogelin]
|
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3851
|
If I do not choose, that is still a choice
[Sartre]
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9242
|
Essential problems either risk death, or intensify the passion of life
[Camus]
|
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9246
|
Danger and integrity are not in the leap of faith, but in remaining poised just before the leap
[Camus]
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22342
|
Kantian existentialists care greatly for reasons for action, whereas Surrealists care nothing
[Murdoch]
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22351
|
Only a philosopher might think choices create values
[Murdoch]
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22502
|
Refraining from murder is not made good by authenticity or self-fulfilment
[Foot]
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4245
|
Ethical conviction must be to some extent passive, and can't just depend on the will and decisions
[Williams,B]
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4246
|
Taking responsibility won't cure ethical uncertainty by; we are uncertain what to decide
[Williams,B]
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6689
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The key to existentialism: the way you make choices is more important than what you choose
[Graham]
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