more from Friedrich Nietzsche

Single Idea 7179

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 3. Evolution]

Full Idea

Something useful for maintaining the individual over time might be unfavourable to its strength and magnificence; what preserves the individual might simultaneously hold it fast and bring its evolution to a standstill.

Gist of Idea

Survival might undermine an individual's value, or prevent its evolution

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 07[25])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.134


A Reaction

He heads this 'Against Darwin', but I think Darwin could accommodate these observations, as he merely points out a mechanism, and makes not value judgements at all.