Single Idea 7150

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 6. Authentic Self]

Full Idea

Men's increasing morality allows them to fancy they can rise to the rank of 'gods', whereas in fact they sink; by cultivating the virtues by which a herd can flourish, they develop the herd animal, and 'fix' what has up to now been the 'unfixed animal'.

Gist of Idea

By developing herd virtues man fixes what has up to now been the 'unfixed animal'

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 02[13])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.68


A Reaction

[compressed] More than any other remark, this explains the sense of distress found in all of later Nietzsche. If he is right, it looks even more true now than in 1886, because of the globalisation of culture. I think he is right.