Single Idea 4504

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 7. Existential Action]

Full Idea

Formerly one employed morality for preservation: but nobody wants to preserve any longer, there is nothing to preserve. Therefore an experimental morality: to give oneself a goal.

Gist of Idea

Morality used to be for preservation, but now we can only experiment, giving ourselves moral goals

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §260)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.150


A Reaction

This strikes me as the essence of Nietzsche, and the relativist position. Exciting and dangerous. Let's kill someone (Gide). Take drugs (Manson). Betray friends (Genet). Be altruistic…?