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Nietzsche
condemned nearly all of the religious and philosophical thought
of his day to blunt terms (e.g., God is dead). He says
the only reality is this world of life and death, conflict and
change, creation and destruction. For centuries, religious ideas
have given meaning to life in the western world; but as they
now collapse, humanity faces a grave crisis of nihilism and
despair.
The
basic character of life in this world is to exhibit a primal
tendency he calls "will to power." He glorifies those
who are strong enough to face this reality: for they alone can
live joyfully, without God and without any hope of ultimate
salvation. The "overman" is his new ideal, the symbol
of creativity incarnate.
Man
is fundamentally only an animal that has developed in an unusual
way. Yet a "higher humanity" can emerge if the most
talented, creative and strongest individuals flourish and prevail,
rising above the life of the "common herd" that typifies
mankind. Nietzsche rejects democratic ideals, believing that
they ignore human differences and hinder the exceptionally talented.
Conflict,
mastery and creativity are essential to life and its development.
The "will to power" brings about new forms of competition
and superiority, as artists and other creative types pave the
way for the "enhancement" of human life.
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