“Pity on the whole thwarts the law of evolution, which is the law of selection. It preserves what is ripe for destruction; it defends life’s disinherited and condemned; through the abundance of the ill-constituted of all kinds which it retains in life it gives life itself a gloomy and questionable aspect.”(pg.130)
Nietzsche’s attitude towards a Christian notion of pity as it is related to evolution and the purpose of life can be extrapolated from the preceding passage. His language is violently inhumane in reference to any intrinsic value life might contain. He refers to some life as being “ripe for destruction”. However, if we understand his statements as a reaction his perceived effects of Christianity on society and not as a normative prescription, it becomes a bit easier to sympathize. In fact, the view he expresses is not easily denied on philosophical grounds. This is precisely the problem that theories of human rights will encounter upon attempting to create philosophical grounds for the intrinsic value of life. Nietzsche requires an evolutionary basis for the value of life. By using the word evolution, Nietzsche seems to be referring to a type of progress within society. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the text he denies the ability for man to determine the truth of a concept like progress. One problem with his strict understanding of evolution is that the preservation of life by means of pity cannot then, be considered an evolution. Furthermore determining what can and cannot be thought of as progress according to Nietzsche is impossible to do by those that the very progress effects. This would mean that by his own understanding, he is not in a position to determine that “pity thwarts the law of evolution”. This passage reeks of his concept of “uberman”. In its most superficial interpretation such a denial of the value of pity can lead to things like WWII. This is not a philosophical problem but a moral one. On the grounds that Nietzsche cannot be held responsible for the powerful implications of his philosophy it is nothing if not sound enough to enliven humanistic doubts in even the most idealistic of us. It is precisely the overcoming of such doubts that he sees as dangerous manifestations of faith. However, succumbing to the very same doubts is dangerous in it’s own right.
In the time that I have been studying philosophy when it comes to Nietzsche he is broadly misunderstood, not contextually but rather on a personal level. I think some people deviate from Nietzsche because of his story; the story his sister created for him. So when people read a passage like this they cant help but almost feel animosity, especially someone who is offended on a personal level, particularly someone who is jewish, and who is to blame a jewish person for feeling offended. Though what you said particularly about this idea leading to WW2 is wrong, thats sort of pointing the blame to particular music and video games for school shootings. In short, give him a chance, dont be quick to draw particular conclusions.
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of things being "ripe for self destruction" interesting. I've been taught time and time again in different physical anthor classes that evolution doesn't care about progress it's random adaptations to random environments.
ReplyDeleteFor progress to be made I think pity, or more probably compassion should be made for when people die. I know you shouldn't think of philosophers in terms of personal experience shaping their philosophy but I can't help think that if Nietzsche knew someone really young that died who was clearly going to benefit the world, make it a more beautiful place he wouldn't be ably to label that person's death as "ripe for destruction."
Evolution brings about change not progress, it functions to kill the things that aren't adapted to the world and kills the things that aren't. Things that don't fit in that scheme die. The world is not a perfect place, far from it. And I think it is the people who can change the world that usually fall victim to it, this is a concept that I think is very much worthy of pity.