Transvaluation of values
Encyclopedia
The revaluation of all values or the transvaluation of all values is a concept
from the philosophy
of Friedrich Nietzsche
.
Elaborating the concept in The Antichrist
, Nietzsche asserts that Christianity, not merely as a religion but also as the predominant moral system of the Western world, in fact inverts nature, and is "hostile to life". As "the religion of pity", Christianity elevates the weak over the strong, exalting that which is "ill-constituted and weak" at the expense of that which is full of life and vitality.
Christianity
is contrasted unfavorably, for example, with Buddhism
. Nietzsche posits that while Christianity is "the struggle against sin", Buddhism is "the struggle against suffering"; to Nietzsche, Christianity limits and lowers humankind by assailing its natural and inevitable instincts as depraved ("sin
"), whereas Buddhism advises one merely to eschew suffering
. While Christianity is full of "revengefulness" and "antipathy" (e.g., the Last Judgment
), Buddhism promotes "benevolence, being kind, as health-promoting." Buddhism is also suggested to be the "honest" of the two religions, for its being strictly "phenomenalistic
", and because "Christianity makes a thousand promises but keeps none." Martyrdom, rather than being a moral high ground or position of strength, is indicative of an "obtuseness to the question of truth."
Similarly, Nietzsche contrasts 19th century European morality to that of pre-Christian Greek civilization. Because sex is, in Nietzsche's thought, a very fundamental affirmation of life, for its being the very process by which human life is created, Christianity's elevation of chastity (including, for example, the story of Mary
's virginal pregnancy) is counter to the natural instincts of humanity, and therefore a contradiction of "natural values".
Nietzsche's enthusiasm for what he called "the transvaluation of all values" stemmed from a contempt for Christianity
and the entirety of the moral system that flowed from it: indeed, "contempt of man", as Nietzsche states near the end of The Antichrist
. Nietzsche perceived the moral framework of Christian civilization to be oppressive: reproduction derided as sinful, and life as a mere investment toward the hollow promise of an illustrious afterlife: death prevailing over life. The transvaluation of all values would mean the exaltation of life rather than the exaltation of suffering, and an acceptance of every instinct or lust as organic and therefore valid, therefore beyond the scope of moral condemnation. What one desires would merely be what one desires, rather than either sinful or pious. What one desires would be the product of stimuli rather than the product of "will".
The Revaluation of All Values was also the working title of a series of four books Nietzsche was planning to write, only the first of which – The Antichrist
– he completed. However, one of his schemes for The Will to Power
used "The Revaluation of All Values" as a subtitle, and it was this scheme that his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche
used to assemble his notes into the final book with that title.
Concept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
from the philosophy
Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche developed his philosophy during the late 19th century amid growing criticism of G. W. F. Hegel's philosophic system.Nietzsche owed the awakening of his philosophical interest to reading Arthur Schopenhauer's Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung and admitted that Schopenhauer was...
of Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
.
Elaborating the concept in The Antichrist
The Antichrist (book)
The Antichrist is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, originally published in 1895. Although it was written in 1888, its controversial content made Franz Overbeck and Heinrich Köselitz delay its publication, along with Ecce Homo...
, Nietzsche asserts that Christianity, not merely as a religion but also as the predominant moral system of the Western world, in fact inverts nature, and is "hostile to life". As "the religion of pity", Christianity elevates the weak over the strong, exalting that which is "ill-constituted and weak" at the expense of that which is full of life and vitality.
Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is contrasted unfavorably, for example, with Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. Nietzsche posits that while Christianity is "the struggle against sin", Buddhism is "the struggle against suffering"; to Nietzsche, Christianity limits and lowers humankind by assailing its natural and inevitable instincts as depraved ("sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
"), whereas Buddhism advises one merely to eschew suffering
Dukkha
Dukkha is a Pali term roughly corresponding to a number of terms in English including suffering, pain, discontent, unsatisfactoriness, unhappiness, sorrow, affliction, social alienation, anxiety,...
. While Christianity is full of "revengefulness" and "antipathy" (e.g., the Last Judgment
Last Judgment
The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, or The Day of the Lord in Christian theology, is the final and eternal judgment by God of every nation. The concept is found in all the Canonical gospels, particularly the Gospel of Matthew. It will purportedly take place after the...
), Buddhism promotes "benevolence, being kind, as health-promoting." Buddhism is also suggested to be the "honest" of the two religions, for its being strictly "phenomenalistic
Phenomenalism
Phenomenalism is the view that physical objects do not exist as things in themselves but only as perceptual phenomena or sensory stimuli situated in time and in space...
", and because "Christianity makes a thousand promises but keeps none." Martyrdom, rather than being a moral high ground or position of strength, is indicative of an "obtuseness to the question of truth."
Similarly, Nietzsche contrasts 19th century European morality to that of pre-Christian Greek civilization. Because sex is, in Nietzsche's thought, a very fundamental affirmation of life, for its being the very process by which human life is created, Christianity's elevation of chastity (including, for example, the story of Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
's virginal pregnancy) is counter to the natural instincts of humanity, and therefore a contradiction of "natural values".
Nietzsche's enthusiasm for what he called "the transvaluation of all values" stemmed from a contempt for Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and the entirety of the moral system that flowed from it: indeed, "contempt of man", as Nietzsche states near the end of The Antichrist
The Antichrist (book)
The Antichrist is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, originally published in 1895. Although it was written in 1888, its controversial content made Franz Overbeck and Heinrich Köselitz delay its publication, along with Ecce Homo...
. Nietzsche perceived the moral framework of Christian civilization to be oppressive: reproduction derided as sinful, and life as a mere investment toward the hollow promise of an illustrious afterlife: death prevailing over life. The transvaluation of all values would mean the exaltation of life rather than the exaltation of suffering, and an acceptance of every instinct or lust as organic and therefore valid, therefore beyond the scope of moral condemnation. What one desires would merely be what one desires, rather than either sinful or pious. What one desires would be the product of stimuli rather than the product of "will".
The Revaluation of All Values was also the working title of a series of four books Nietzsche was planning to write, only the first of which – The Antichrist
The Antichrist (book)
The Antichrist is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, originally published in 1895. Although it was written in 1888, its controversial content made Franz Overbeck and Heinrich Köselitz delay its publication, along with Ecce Homo...
– he completed. However, one of his schemes for The Will to Power
The Will to Power
The Will to Power is the title given to a book of selectively reordered notes from the literary remains of Friedrich Nietzsche by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and Heinrich Köselitz...
used "The Revaluation of All Values" as a subtitle, and it was this scheme that his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche
Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche
Therese Elisabeth Alexandra Förster-Nietzsche , who went by her second name, was the sister of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and the creator of the Nietzsche Archive in 1894....
used to assemble his notes into the final book with that title.