Nietzsche and Sartre 101The herd associates power with “evil” and seeks to limit the
power of their betters by linking the two terms. If, indeed, the
herd can convince others that the linkage is valid, the result is a
limitation of the powers of others. The superior man, however,
is creative, courageous, and determines values according to his
own lights. It is obvious that the superior man is an individual,
and as such acts alone and is not afraid to choose what he
requires. The herd, or slave, morality is in fact a morality of
utility; they (the members of the herd) cannot act alone, are afraid
of the superior individuals, and therefore create a morality meant
to inhibit those superior to themselves. That morality is one that
calls “evil” all those qualities of power, strength, courage,
creativity, and individualism. Conversely, that morality calls
“good” all those those things which protect the herd.
Beyond his appeal to nature, Nietzsche traces the concept of
the master morality back to the Romans. (The Roman word for
virtue translates literally into “bravery” or “strength.”) The
concept of the herd, or slave, morality he traces first back to the
Jews. He considers the Jewish ethic not a moral teaching based
on any valid principle, but rather a device created by a weak and
oppressed people to inhibit their tormenters by threatening them
with the retaliation of God. The entire set of rules which begin,
“Thou shalt not...” are not God’s commandments; according to
Nietzsche they were the Jewish rules for self-preservation in a
world in which they were unable to compete. Unable to compete
according to the rules of strength, courage, and individual effort,
they resorted to cunning, deception, and as a group created the
herd morality. The Christian ethic of humility, passivity, charity,
and meekness is equally despicable to Nietzsche.
There are several problems which emanate from this slave
morality. In addition to making whole races of people docile and
lifeless, the inhibitions imposed on individuals limit personal
progress of an untold number of potential geniuses. Beyond the
problems imposed on individuals is the social retardation that
takes place. Progress is stifled, creativity is hindered, civilization’s
very growth is slowed. The master mentality, creative, passion
ate, and eager to risk everything, produces the art, music, beauty,
that can only be bom of cruelty, suffering, and the exhilaration
of power.
Once the free spirits, the aristocrats of the world, free them