Nietzsches critique of Plato and Christianity - 2437 Words

Essay No. 1: Write an essay on one of the thinkers covered in the unit so far (i.e. weeks 2-6). Essay question: Assess the major contributions of your chosen thinker to our understanding of the human condition. Due Date: 16/9/13 Number of Words: 2,150 â€Å"God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. Yet his shadow still looms. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?† (Nietzsche, 1882, 1887, s. 125).This is one of many renowned and influential quotes devised by the prolific German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. A lover of Greek myths and a philologist by trade, Nietzsche expounded his controversial philosophy with an iron fist criticizing Platonism,†¦show more content†¦Only by doing this can it be possible to enter the realm of the ubermenschen (overman) and realise one’s highest ideal. Taking control and holding responsibility over one’s own state on both a social and individual level is, in Nietzsche’s view, integral to the human condition. Nietzsche argues that Christianity is repressive, sanctimonious and provides too much solace which prevents one from living an ideal life. The conditions inherent in Christianity thwarts man’s desire to live an instinctual, free and creative life where man can exercise his will to power. Instead he says, the â€Å"Christian faith from the beginning, is sacrifice. The sacrifice of all freedom, all pride, all self-confidence of spirit, it is at the same time subjection, self-derision, and self-mutilation† (Nietzsche,1886 , p.45). He sees it as being out of touch with reality and irrelevant and cautions us to at the least question its morals and teachings and not being a blind, following sheep, or in Nietzsche’s lexicon, a ‘herdman’. Radically, Nietzsche took the power from God and attributed it instead to mankind. Nietzsche’s proposal â€Å"the real philosophers of Greece are those before Socrates† (1888, p. 437) clearly demonstrates his stance and attitude towards Platonism. Nietzsche, as a philologist, was enamoured with the ancient Greeks, their freedom, unbridled and unrestrained passions and their pledge for an instinctual,Show MoreRelatedComparison Between Nietzsche And Kierkegaard1244 Words   |  5 Pagesa very interesting subject that is debated on the concepts of thinking in absolutes. The need to compare and contrast these two is a volatile understanding of this particular philosophical theory. It is also important to review their thoughts and critique them in the sense of saying what makes sense, and what does not make sense. Starting with Kierkegaard, it is best to understand that he has a deep fulfillment to God and that he feels is the absolute. This absolute is to live in the realm of a paradoxRead MoreAristotle And Plato s Influence On Western Philosophical Tradition2851 Words   |  12 PagesAquinas, and ironically never considered himself a philosopher, and criticized philosophers for always falling short of the true and proper wisdom to be found in Christian revelation.† From a Voegelinian point of view, Voegelin would have much to critique on Aquinas, in regards to Christian dogma. And lastly modern philosophy, which consist of the major figures in the philosophy of mind, epistemology, and metaphysics during the 17th and 18th centuries. Basically it is divided into two main groups: