Nietzsche's Beyond Good And Evil

Toward the beginning of Beyond Good and evil Nietzsche asserts that our prejudices shape our beliefs. On the basis of this, Nietzsche argues that philosophers up to this point have shaped their philosophy to their prejudices. The works of these philosophers then would provide autobiographical insight about the author’s psychology, but not Truth. Beyond this critical error, Nietzsche also appears to be arguing that we cannot confirm the truthfulness of truth (i.e. We wouldn’t recognize truth even if we did stumble upon it). This is partially a result of linguistic limitations as well as natural ignorance. Given the aforementioned problems with current philosophy, Nietzsche prophesizes the coming of a new species of philosopher.

These new philosophers

53). Here he is referring to the rise of dogma in group discussion. While there may be some value in the sharing of ideas doing so can lead to dogmatic influence on the individual. Moreover, individuals not practicing the same skepticism as the new philosophers will likely be contaminated by their prejudices.

Throughout Nietzsche’s philosophical career he regularly discredits the effectiveness of language. Essentially, his critique argues that language operates through metaphor since metaphors are imperfect so is language. Thus, it is intuitive that he would advocate self-contained thinking to avoid misinterpretation “Our highest insights must—and should—sound like follies and sometimes like crimes when they are heard without permission by those who are not predisposed and predestined for them” (BG&E p. 42)

The concurrence of isolation and self-containment gives rise to one final feature of the new philosopher: a mask. The mask for the new philosopher serves as a presentable front for society to view. There’s nothing dangerous under the mask, but due to the peculiar nature of the new philosophers, such a front is necessary if he wishes to be accepted by respectable

The section describes Zarathustra’s encounter with a youth sitting under a tree “This tree stands lonely here in the mountains; it grew high above man and beast. And if it wanted to speak it would have nobody who could understand it, so high has it grown. Now it waits and waits—for what is it waiting? It dwells too near the seat of the clouds: surely, it waits for the first lightning.” (Portable Nietzsche p. 155). The tree mentioned here exhibits semblance to the new philosophers described in Beyond Good and Evil. Assuming this is correct the section further describes the aforementioned struggle quoted in paragraph two. The section as a whole identifies the risk involved in progressing towards the Nietzschean ideal. At first tearing down dogma can be liberating, but what is left in the wake? Following demolition what is left to give direction? Ideally, a goal has been set prior to demolition, and if not, introspection will usually provide a pursuit. Though the deeply personal and arbitrary nature of Nietzsche’s philosophy leads to a balancing act. On one hand absence of meaning is congruent to happiness. On the other, it’s a pit of despair. “Alas, I knew noble men who lost their highest hopes. Then they slandered all high hopes. Then they lived impudently in brief pleasures and barely cast their goals