Nietzsche has become a cliche in popular philosophy.He has an immense fan following across the globe specially among angst-ridden young individuals.Yet,he remains the most misunderstood philosopher of all times.Most of my friends who have a superficial understanding of Nietzsche regards his philosophy 'destructive' rather than 'constructive'.Others just ignore him as a mad man ,who has been hyped by statements like 'God is dead'.
When it comes to morality ,the general perception is that Nietzsche turned the tables over .It is commonly believed that he was an 'immoralist' who prechead hatred and contemp for everything that is considered morally 'good' by general public.But that is just a common misunderstanding that results due to an overly simplified reading of Nietzsche.
Actually Nietzsche was a psychologist first and then a philosopher.Generally,philosophers establish the truth of a belief but for Nietzsche the important question is not the truth of a belief but rather 'why we believe what we believe'.Nietzsche was not solely 'dectructive' ,a better understanding of him can lead one to realize what he was trying to achieve by persistent critique of morality.
Now,i will qoute a passage from Nietzsche that will allow us towards a better understanding of Nietzche's critique of morality.
" I do not deny - unless I am a fool - that many actions called immoral ought to be avoided and resisted, or that many called moral ought to be done and encouraged - but I think that the one should be avoided and the other encouraged for other reasons than hitherto."
(Nietzsche from Daybreak)
I would like to conclude that Nietzsche reagarded a philosopher noble only if that philosopher lived his philosophy.Nietzsche was the embodiment of his own philosophy to some extent.Its not easy to say that Nietzsche meant 'this' or he meant 'that'.As he himself said,'there are no truths only interpertations'.And that is my interpertation of Nietzsche.
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