In Twilight of the Idols , in the section called \"Morality as Anti-Nature,\" Ni

Question

In Twilight of the Idols, in the section called "Morality as Anti-Nature," Nietzsche presents a rather damming criticism of Christian morality claiming that this form of morality turns hostilely against the passions (or is an attempt to kill the passions). Here the alternative Nietzsche proposes is the "spiritualization of passion" (The Portable Nietzsche, 487.) for which he gives us two examples: love and hostility. Briefly discuss how Nietzsche uses these passions as examples of triumph over the prevailing form of morality.

Explanation / Answer

Nietzsche says that every emotion has the state when they drive a person crazy and that person is so much swayed in those emotions and loses his control over mind and body. These phases that the passions cause are called disastrous. And the spiritualisation to connect with reality only comes much later. He says, that the "element of stupidity" has led to wars and fights. With increas in passion, people have plotted against one another in the wake of revenge.

In the New Testament as well it has been mentioned that cravings and passions need to be killed, "il faut tuer les passions". With the aim of trying to kill the cravings and passions, can act as a preventive measure for any unpleasant or destructive things to happen. These cravings have been specifically pointed towards sensuality, love and lust in various instances in the bible, but hostility has not found mention. One of such examples come from Adam and Eve where even after denying, Adam plunged the apple in Eve's love, defying his morality of obedience.

Hence, it is emotions, be in the form of love or hostility that sways a person's thinking away from moral values.

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