Nietzche's View of Self-Denial

Nietzche asked why we like asceticism (self-denial) so much. His answer was: we embrace self-denial and suffering in order to give purpose and meaning to the suffering that the Universe imposes upon us. In order to feel like we are "in control," we need a reason for our suffering, so we just cook one up: We DESERVE suffering... Nietzsche felt that fullness of life demands an unconditional affirmation of existence. The "spirit of revenge" is to be mistrusted inasmuch as it is usually born out of weakness and resentment. It is not that we ought to turn the other cheek, but rather that we should renounce the tendency to despair which is implicit in our habit of always seeking someone to blame for the difficulties we experience. We may do whatever we will--our right extends as far as our power!--but we only exacerbate our difficulties when we brood over past insults and injuries. We are unable to realize our real potential due to such brooding and, in general, due to our habit of saying "No!" to life. In contrast to the spirit of revenge which broods over the past, the spirit of life affirms the past as the sole foundation upon which we may create--the necessary condition for the realization of our highest hopes and most noble possibilities. Nietzsche writes in The Gay Science, morality ranks "human drives and actions, [and] always express(es) the needs of a community and herd: whatever profits it." Instead of man creating his own valuations of "good" an

Related Essays

Iran-Iraq War Chapter 5 THE CEASE FIRE The official .... American historians often cite Nietzche as the philosophical guru .... Rather, it view the action, from its theocratic .... The Times [London], 4. Chubin, S. (1989, April .... (6632 27 )

Crisis in Iran & American Foreign Policy .... surrogates, such as the Contras and the Israelis, in Nietzche est terms. .... Israelis view the State of Israel as a vindication of Jewish .... Chubin, S. (1989, April). .... (9640 39 )

History of the War in Vietnam .... it is from the rational point of view, is the .... Record : The Private Papers of Harry A� S. Truman , RH .... In Thus Spake A� Zarathustra , Nietzche said that "a good .... (7350 29 )

Category: Philosophy - N