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Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Ambitious, yet modest, Metaphysics' and 'Unpublished Notebooks 1885-86'

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2 ideas

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / f. Übermensch
Caesar and Napoleon point to the future, when they pursue their task regardless of human sacrifice [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: In nature's such as Caesar and Napoleon we intuit something of a 'disinterested' laboring on one's marble, regardless of any sacrifice of human beings. The future of the highest human beings lies on here: to bear responsibility and not collapse under it.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1885-86 [1886], 1[056])
     A reaction: Hideous. Nietzsche at his absolute worst. You would think there was some wonderful higher good to which they were leading the human race, when they just strike me as people who liked fighting, and adored winning.
Napoleon was very focused, and rightly ignored compassion [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: With Napoleon only the essential instincts of humanity came into consideration during his calculations, and he had a right not to take notice of the exceptional ones e.g. of compassion.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1885-86 [1886], 34[131])
     A reaction: Napoleon was notoriously indifferent to casualties, and I find it depressing that Nietzsche supports him. Napoleon brought misery to Europe for nearly twenties, mainly because he loved winning battles. Nothing über about that.