One's Personal Moral Beliefs example essay topic

In A Nietzsche Reader, Nietzsche's views on morality are outlined. Although his ideas are bold and pointed, they also are at times contradictory. Many of his concepts and arguments are more thought provoking than practical. It would be a difficult task to maintain a strong set of ethics, while at the same time be a true follower of Nietzsche.

Not only would it be difficult because of the wide variation in the way he defines morality, but it would also be difficult to find the median between the propositions he requires one to adhere to. However it does seem that there possibility of reaching When Nietzsche first defines morality, he states "Morality is nothing other than obedience to customs". (pg. 87) These customs are formed from tradition which is "A higher authority which one obeys, not because it is useful but because it commands". (pg. 87) However Nietzsche acknowledge that laws which do not make sense should not be law, as they cause more trouble then they would impede. Essentially, when one abides by the law which one is command to, they are furthering the good of the community, but not necessarily themselves. Nietzsche believes that following the law is part of morality. In fact, he states that one's conscience is just, "The voice of laws". (pg. 85) The conscience is what tells one what is right and wrong.

As long as the reasons behind the laws are good, then those laws should be followed. It would be immoral not to follow those laws. However, a successful crime which breaks the law is, in fact, moral. The idea is that the "crime" will be realized as right and then define the new law of the community.

Morality is also defined as "The herd instinct of the individual" (pg. 102). This herd instinct is very similar to the concept of the good for the community. One must not look out for one's self interest exclusively, but instead look out for the greater good for the community. With the concept of the herd instinct and following what is commanded, morality is taken out of the hands of the individual and instead controlled by society. Since "Free-doers are at a disadvantage compared with freethinkers because people suffer more obviously from the consequences of deeds than from those of thoughts" (pg. 91), those who act free from the bounds of society are likely to be punished. So those who commit what they believe to be a moral action, are punished.

The major difficulty with maintaining a strong set of ethics, and being a follower of Nietzsche comes when one's moral beliefs differ with what is commanded by society. It is not often the case that one bases their morality entirely off what is commanded to them, there will always be discrepancies between the law and one's personal ethics. The way Nietzsche suggests one must remedy this situation is not by committing acts of crime alone, but successful ones. After this, one's personal moral beliefs will become the law ideally. This method for morality is unpractical and only allows individual thought to those who are able to commit successful crimes, or in other words the elite.