more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 18322

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / c. Life ]

Full Idea

When we speak of values we do so under the inspiration and from the perspective of life: life itself evalutes through us when we establish values

Gist of Idea

When we establish values, that is life itself establishing them, through us

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 4.5)

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1972], p.45


A Reaction

I love Nietzsche's ideas about the source of values, and his remarks about the value of life. Other thinkers sound so simplistic in comparison.


The 10 ideas with the same theme [how and why we might value life itself]:

Human beings are not majestic, either through divine origins, or through grand aims [Nietzsche]
In every age the wisest people have judged life to be worthless [Nietzsche]
Value judgements about life can never be true [Nietzsche]
The value of life cannot be estimated [Nietzsche]
A philosopher fails in wisdom if he thinks the value of life is a problem [Nietzsche]
When we establish values, that is life itself establishing them, through us [Nietzsche]
To evaluate life one must know it, but also be situated outside of it [Nietzsche]
The sacred in every human is their expectation of good rather than evil [Weil]
The sanctity of a human life depends either on being of our species, or on being a person [Singer]
What matters is not intrinsic value of life or rights, but worthwhile and desired life, and avoidance of pain [Glover]