Topic > The opinions of Freud and Nietzsche on human morality

IndexNietzsche's criticism: morality as a reaction to impotenceFreud's criticism: morality as civilization's response to aggressionConclusionFriedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud present profound criticisms of human morality that they challenge prevailing notions of virtue and ethics. Their perspectives deviate from the conventional belief that morality is an innate aspect of human nature. Instead, they argue that morality arises in response to the complexity of human existence. Although both Nietzsche and Freud assert that morality is a reactive creation, their assessments of its value diverge significantly. Nietzsche argues that reactive morality is harmful to humanity, stifling its potential for growth and prosperity. In contrast, Freud postulates that morality is an essential element of civilization, facilitating harmonious coexistence between individuals. The disparity between their views stems from the distinct motivations that drive their criticisms: Nietzsche's exploration focuses on the impact of morality on the individual, while Freud's analysis focuses on the role of morality in society as a whole. Together. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Nietzsche's Critique: Morality as a Reaction to ImpotenceFriedrich Nietzsche, in his seminal work "On the Genealogy of Morality," embarks on a quest to decipher the "value of [human] values." He uses vivid metaphors to clarify his perspective, one particularly telling metaphor being that of the helpless lamb confronted by a formidable bird of prey. This metaphor serves as a crucial entry point for understanding Nietzsche's account of morality. In Nietzsche's metaphor, the helpless lamb, unable to resist the predatory bird, labels the bird evil for its actions and, conversely, deems itself virtuous for its perceived morals. superiority. This reaction arises from the lamb's resentment, a deep resentment that arises from its impotence. Nietzsche argues that this reaction is driven by the lamb's will to power, an innate drive in every individual who seeks to create favorable conditions for the expression of his or her power. Consequently, the lamb invents a new criterion of strength – moral strength, virtue and goodness – to compensate for its inherent weakness. According to Nietzsche, morality emerges as a response to impotence. Expanding his metaphor, Nietzsche extends the concept to human behavior. He posits that powerless humans, much like the lamb, react to their lack of power by redefining weakness as morally virtuous. Actions resulting from weakness, such as shyness, submission or cowardice, are repurposed as moral virtues. In contrast, behaviors associated with powerful individuals, such as dominance or the accumulation of wealth, are considered evil. This transformation translates the power dynamics between the powerful and the powerless into a moral framework, shaping human morality. One of the central elements of Nietzsche's criticism revolves around the negative implications of reactive "slave" morality on the individual. He identifies several problematic aspects, including self-deception. Morality classifies powerless individuals as morally superior to the powerful, despite Nietzsche's claim that these powerless beings aspire to achieve power on their own. Morality requires self-deception, forcing individuals to believe that weakness and morality are preferable to strength and perceived evil. Furthermore, Nietzsche argues that morality fosters unhealthy fixation in powerless individuals, leading to the emergence of.