The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
On The Genealogy of Morals is comprised of three essays, all of which question and critique the value of our moral judgments based on a genealogical method by which Nietzsche examines the origins and meanings of our different moral concepts.
The first essay, "'Good and evil', 'Good and evil'" contrasts what Nietzsche calls "master morals" and "slave morals." Master morality was developed by strong, healthy and free, who saw their own happiness as good and called it that. On the contrary, they saw the weak, insane and enslaved as "bad", since their weakness was undesirable. On the contrary, the slaves, feeling oppressed by these rich and happy masters, called the masters "bad" and, on the contrary, called themselves "good".
The second essay, "'Guilt', 'Bad conscience' and the like" deals with guilt (surprise, surprise), bad conscience and the like. Nietzsche traces the origins of concepts like guilt and punishment, showing that they were not originally based on any sense of moral transgression. Rather, guilt simply meant that a debt was owed and punishment was simply a way to ensure payment. Only with the rise of slave morality did these moral concepts acquire their current meaning. Nietzsche identifies bad conscience as our tendency to see ourselves as sinners and traces its origin to the need that came with the development of society to inhibit our animal instincts for aggression and cruelty and turn them towards ourselves.
The third essay, "What is the meaning of ascetic ideals?" he faces asceticism, the powerful and paradoxical force that dominates contemporary life. Nietzsche sees it as the expression of a weak and sick will. Unable to cope with its struggle against itself, the sick will views its animal instincts, its earthly nature, as vile, sinful, and horrible. Unable to break free of these instincts, he tries to submit and tame himself as much as possible. Nietzsche concludes that "man prefers wanting nothing than not wanting."
