Thesis Chapters

After a few days of hard work, I've finally come up with three distinct areas I want to focus on for my thesis. Paul wanted a short outline - I'm sending him ~900 words. Seems to cover most of what I want to cover.

It also seems that my thesis has changed somewhat. I was really hesitant to make the concept of the Ubermench a high focus, for it has just been so overdone... so much is written about it, and so SO many interpretations of it has already been done. I didn't want to follow the 'herd' of every undergrad and focus on that, so I've decided to branch it off a little.

The individual, the world, and meaning... at least... that is what I am thinking.

So, a semi-plan is written. I would love to spend more time on it, but, exams...

Here is the draft - I am eager to see how this turns out in 6 months time... and to see how far I've actually deviated away from this original plan!

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Thesis Chapters

I - The individual as giving meaning to the world.

Nietzsche held the idea that the individual was a particular being distinct from another particular being, but not by the idea of individuality. An concept of the individual simply means that two being cannot occupy the same position in space or time. Due to the fact the individual cannot exist in two different moments at once, he therefore cannot be the same individual from one moment to the next. “From one instant to the next, he is another.”

Nietzsche is not denying the existence of particular individual beings that are distinct from others, rather, he denies a specific concept of the individual that is used in order for one to view both themselves and the world.

“An eye which has no direction at all.... There is only seeing from a perspective, only a “knowing” from a perspective.” [GM – III, §12]

The individual as being the subject of knowledge concerning the world. From our one position in space and time, we are only able to view one particular interpretation of the world around us – we are the starting position. Nietzsche discussed the importance of the subjective point-of-view, as we cannot have an eye turned in no direction – the idea of an objective “truth” of self and the world is an empty concept. Rather, it is the subjective view that attributes meaning to the self and to the world. It is the individual that comes to provide his own meaning and definition of his existence. The affirmation of one's life comes from within – and this meaning if brought about through an understanding of the meaning and origins of morality.

II - Life-history and overcoming the herd.

To seek within oneself a connection between all 'life-history' (i.e states, experiences). To seek out a 'self-destination'. Man is to find the path of historical development that will lead to a state of individuality – it is not about inner-self deliberation about all the actions that one can take, rather, it is about the sum of all actions that constitute his being.

Man as he is now is determined to a certain extent by the customs put in place in order for him to be a calculable, regular, “like among his like”.1

“... but everything is necessary; each movement can be calculated mathematically. Thus it is with human actions; if one were omniscient, one would be able to calculate each individual action in advance.”2

By means of laws, morals and social conditioning we have made man calculable. It is only when one realises they are at the end-point of a development of society and moral customs are we able to find the “sovereign individual”3, one who understands that these were mere means to an end and is now able to define himself as he is.4 This social conditioning forms the basis for our being as one of the herd and this then allows for higher emergence to occur when we escape from the 'social straightjacket'.

“The herd is a means, and nothing more.” [Will to Power, 766]

Brief analysis and discussion of the 'herd' mentality. Establish the point that one must overcome this, to obtain mastery over himself and his circumstances.5 The notion of the 'higher' being in contrast to the 'herd'. One who becomes himself by exploring and developing his talents in order to distinguish him from the 'herd'. A failure to do so is a failure to realise actual human potential.

If we are to look upon the world with many eyes, this is the preliminary step towards the task of the new philosopher.6 If he advances beyond conventional morality, then he is faced with the task of creating new values. We unconsciously create favourable conditions for ourselves, however, creating them consciously is impossible for most people, therefore we receive them from others.


III - The individual as the new philosopher.

The individual is who recognises his life-history as the path to he as himself now, one who has been able to overcome the herd-mentality and face life as his own responsibility. To create and embrace new moralities... this is the task of the new philosophers.

To be able to undergo the hard task of embracing independence of both the mind and the spirit.

“... their will to truth is – Will to Power.” [BGE – VI, §211]

An analysis of Beyond Good and Evil - Chapter II, The Free Spirit to be included in discussion.

The idea of a higher humanity as an artistic one – living independently of customs or norms. We have made everything around us so clear, simple and easy. We have tried to retain our ignorance in order to enjoy life, we have become thoughtless. We must aim to escape from this “simplified, thoroughly artificial, suitably imagined, and suitably falsified world.”7

It is a dangerous and difficult road, as one's successes and failures become entirely one's own responsibility.

“The individual is something quite new which creates new things, something absolute – all his acts are entirely his own.” [Will to Power, 767]

For Nietzsche it not really a question about man at all, rather, he is to be overcome. It is about a transcendence and self-becoming rather than an emergence of a determined being - “a becoming master”. Self-becoming is not a final state, it is an ongoing process with no 'end being'. It is open to endless reinterpretation.