more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 20367

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State ]

Full Idea

All states and communities are something lower than the individual, but necessary kinds for his higher development.

Gist of Idea

Individual development is more important than the state, but a community is necessary

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885], 10/7[98]), quoted by John Richardson - Nietzsche's System 2.4 n104

Book Ref

Richardson,John: 'Nietzsche's System' [OUP 2002], p.122

A Reaction

This indicates why Nietzsche should not really be taken as a political thinker, though I would say there is a sort of communitarianism implied in this, just as for Aristotle virtue is supreme, which needs social expression.

Related Idea

Idea 20368 There are no 'individual' persons; we are each the sum of humanity up to this moment [Nietzsche]

The 26 ideas from 'Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari)'

7846 Nietzsche thinks philosophy makes us more profound, but not better [Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
20107 How many mediocre thinkers are occupied with influential problems! [Nietzsche]
20352 Nietzsche has a metaphysics, as well as perspectives - the ontology is the perspectives [Nietzsche, by Richardson]
20128 Each person has a fixed constitution, which makes them a particular type of person [Nietzsche, by Leiter]
22503 Nietzsche could only revalue human values for a different species [Nietzsche, by Foot]
8041 The superman is a monstrous oddity, not a serious idea [MacIntyre on Nietzsche]
20135 Nietzsche's higher type of man is much more important than the idealised 'superman' [Nietzsche, by Leiter]
22475 Moral generalisation is wrong, because we should evaluate individual acts [Nietzsche, by Foot]
22476 Nietzsche thought our psychology means there can't be universal human virtues [Nietzsche, by Foot]
7847 Initially nihilism was cosmic, but later Nietzsche saw it as a cultural matter [Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
9782 Nietzsche urges that nihilism be active, and will nothing itself [Nietzsche, by Zizek]
20106 Nietzsche was fascinated by a will that can turn against itself [Nietzsche, by Safranski]
20371 Nietzsche thinks we should join a society, in order to criticise, heal and renew it [Nietzsche, by Richardson]
20104 Nietzsche tried to lead a thought-provoking life [Safranski on Nietzsche]
20353 The 'will to power' is basically applied to drives and forces, not to people [Nietzsche, by Richardson]
20108 Every culture loses its identity and power if it lacks a major myth [Nietzsche]
20367 Individual development is more important than the state, but a community is necessary [Nietzsche]
20105 Storms are wonderful expressions of free powers! [Nietzsche]
20113 Friendly chats undermine my philosophy; wanting to be right at the expense of love is folly [Nietzsche]
22501 Nietzsche classified actions by the nature of the agent, not the nature of the act [Nietzsche, by Foot]
22500 Nietzsche failed to see that moral actions can be voluntary without free will [Foot on Nietzsche]
20102 Flight from boredom leads to art [Nietzsche]
20124 Reliving life countless times - this gives the value back to life which religion took away [Nietzsche]
20123 First see nature as non-human, then fit ourselves into this view of nature [Nietzsche]
20379 Reason is just another organic drive, developing late, and fighting for equality [Nietzsche]
20376 We begin with concepts of kinds, from individuals; but that is not the essence of individuals [Nietzsche]