Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'What Mary Didn't Know' and 'Human, All Too Human'

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4 ideas

24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights
If self-defence is moral, then so are most expressions of 'immoral' egoism [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: If we accept self-defense as moral, then we must also accept nearly all expressions of so-called immoral egoism.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Human, All Too Human [1878], 104)
     A reaction: I find this idea rather disconcerting, because I have always thought that the clearest possible 'natural right' was that of self-defence - but this implication (if it be so) had never struck me. Hm.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
The state aims to protect individuals from one another [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: The state is a clever institution for protecting individuals from one another.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Human, All Too Human [1878], 235)
     A reaction: This is Nietzsche allying with Hobbes, and presumably aiming this remark at Hegel.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 5. Culture
Culture cannot do without passions and vices [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: Culture absolutely cannot do without passions, vices and acts of malice.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Human, All Too Human [1878], 477)
     A reaction: I'm not sure how you test the truth of that aphorism, given that humanity is perpetually doomed to live with such things. If those qualities disappeared, I suppose we would drift apart. We are 'dependent' beings, as MacIntyre says.
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / b. Consultation
If we want the good life for the greatest number, we must let them decide on the good life [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: If the business of politics is to make life tolerable for the greatest number, this greatest number may also determine what they understand by a tolerable life.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Human, All Too Human [1878], 438)