Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals

About this Video

• Video Title: Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals
• Channel: Jeffrey Kaplan
• Speakers: Jeffrey Kaplan
• Duration: 00:25:28

Introduction

This video lecture discusses Friedrich Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals, focusing on Nietzsche's critique of conventional morality. Kaplan explains Nietzsche's concept of a "slave revolt" as a metaphorical origin story for modern morality, contrasting it with an earlier, aristocratic moral code. The lecture analyzes Nietzsche's criticisms of modern morality and explores the distinctions between "good and bad" versus "good and evil."

Key Takeaways

• Nietzsche's Critique of Morality: Nietzsche challenges the conventional understanding of morality, arguing that it is a system created by the "powerless" to undermine the "powerful."
• The Slave Revolt Metaphor: Nietzsche uses the "slave revolt" metaphorically to describe how the values of the powerless (humility, kindness, etc.) replaced the values of the powerful (strength, aggression, etc.).
• Two Modes of Valuation: The lecture distinguishes between two modes of valuation: the aristocratic (good/bad) and the priestly (good/evil), showing how the latter emerged from the former.
• Criticisms of Modern Bourgeois Morality: Kaplan outlines three criticisms Nietzsche levels at modern morality: it's self-undermining (based on resentment), unhealthy (suppresses hatred), and stifles greatness.
• The Lambs and Birds of Prey Analogy: The analogy illustrates how the powerless (lambs) create a moral system that condemns the powerful (birds of prey), despite the natural order.