Nietzsche's Genealogy Of Morality Essay

Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morality, indubitably depicts and critiques the origins of morality and how the definition of morality itself is indefinite and evolves over time. However, in depicting such, elevates the controversy of several other concepts. The first controversy is the idea of what is good and evil, which initiates the idea of two subcategories of morality. Next, is the concept of guilt and punishment which correlates with the idea of a bad conscience. Lastly, Nietzsche challenges the concept of asceticism. Nonetheless, Nietzsche makes a bold claim that not only challenges the desirability of morality as whole, but declares that morality, in the state that we currently live in, impedes us from living a life that reaches our greatest potential and a life full of prosperity. Nietzsche declares, “That the lambs feel anger toward the great birds of prey does not strike us as odd: but that is no reason for holding it against the great birds of prey that they snatch up little lambs for

The great birds of prey are referred to as masters since they illustrate strength and dominance, while the lambs resemble slaves for they are considered weak and indefensive. Thus, the lambs “hold it against” the great birds of prey for preying on them by calling them “evil” because the great birds of prey kill their kind(meaning the lambs) for their own self-satisfaction. Here is where Nietzsche begins to depict the origin of the concept of good and evil. Nietzsche conveys that the idea of good is born from ressentiment and all other things in contrast are evil. It’s very simple for one to feel oppressed by one’s superiors when one feels inferior. If one’s status is inevitable for example, a beggar how can one not blame those of superiority for preying on them instead of having compassion toward the