On the accusation of negativity in Nietzsches ethics: A refutation

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2011 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the 19th Century, grade: 1st Class (80%), Durham University, course: Philosophy and Psychology, language: English, abstract: Nietzsche, considerably more than most other philosophers, has permeated Western popular culture to the extent that most people will have heard his name and even harbour certain connotations with it. Given the manner in which Nietzsche is most often portrayed in popular culture, it is unsurprising that these connotations are predominantly negative. "Conan the Barbarian", for example, opens with Nietzsches line, "What does not kill us, makes us stronger," indicating a certain encouragement of brutish barbarianism. Moreover however, Nietzsches philosophy is associated with cruelty in Polanskis "Death and the Maiden", in which Dr.Miranda, who tortured and raped political prisoners, is recognised for his tendency to quote Nietzsche. Perhaps Nietzsches most widespread association, is however with Hitler. I argue that these negative associations are not only inaccurate, but in fact quite ironically opposite to the philosophy that Nietzsche actually promoted. While accusations related to Nazism can relatively easily be refuted, accusations of brutishness, elitism and immorality are not entirely unfounded: Nietzsche encouraged strength and power; called himself an "immoralist"; rejected democracy and human equality, and promoted the notion of an "ـbermensch". At first glance, Nietzsches philosophy thus appears to support the aforementioned, negative conclusions. It is for this reason precisely that short quotes by Nietzsche rarely do his entire philosophy justice. As will be seen presently, it is vital that Nietzsches philosophy be understood in its entirety if we are to realise its true, severely positivist nature. Such a reading will however not suffice to reveal Nietzsche positivism; judgements of Nietzsche promoting an inherently negative philosophy are present even