NielzscIe, NiIiIisn and Meaning

AulIov|s) Lavvence J. HalaI

Bevieved vovI|s)
Souvce TIe FevsonaIisl Fovun, VoI. 3, No. 2, NiIiIisn |FaII 1987), pp. 91-111
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Lavvence J. HalaI
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
INTBOBUCTION
WIal is neanl
I
niIiIisn? TIe levn seens lo Iave Ieen coined
in 19lI
Cenluv
Bussian
as an
expvession
oJ
anavcI
and vevoIulion
av
poIilicaI opposilion
lo lIe eslaIIisIed ovdev
|OIson,
NiIiIisn
514-517).
Since
lIen,
niIiIisn Ias cone lo nean a nucI Ivoadev
Iind oJ
opposilion, naneI
lIe deniaI oJ
vaIue,
neaning
ov
lvulI
in lIe vovId. Il
can Ie caIIed lIe nosl exlvene
negalive consequence
oJ lIe
conlenpovav cvilique
and/ov
coIIapse
oJ lvadilionaI veslevn
IeIieJ
sslens,
vIicI in vavious
vas
Iad nainlained lIal
a)
vaIues
Iave sone Iind oJ
oIjeclive
vaIidil
and
jusliJicalion, I)
Iunan
exislence Ias
an
uIlinale
neaning
ov
puvpose,
and
c)
lIeve
ave
oIjeclive,
InovaIIe lvulIs aIoul lIe vovId. TIe
slvongesl aggvegale
assevlion oJ niIiIisn vouId lIen Ie TIe vovId ilseIJ
possesses
no
vaIue,
Iunan exislence is
uIlinaleI neaningIess,
and
InovIedge
cIains ave vilIoul Joundalion.
NaluvaII,
a
vievpoinl
sucI
as
lIis
poses
a
cvisis Jov Iunan cuIluve.
NiIiIisn
seens
inloIevaIIe,
inpvaclicaI, dangevous,
inIunan. MucI
oJ nodevn
lIougIl
Ias eilIev vveslIed vilI niIiIisn
ov
sougIl
aIlev
nalives lo il. TIe
genevaI queslion aninaling
sucI
lIinIing
seens lo
Ie Hov
can
vaIue,
neaning
ov
lvulI Ie Jound
in,
ov
vesloved
lo,
a
vovId lIal Ias Iosl ils lvadilionaI conJidences and cevlainlies
|vIelIev
il Ie
lIeoIog, nelapIsics,
cIassicaI
pIsics, lecInoIog,
ov a
genevaI
oplinislic
JailI in Iunan
veason,
goodness
and
pvogvess)?
TIe
vvilings
oJ FviedvicI NielzscIe conlain
signiJicanl
veJevences
lo niIiIisn.1 Since Iis
lIougIl
issues
a
vadicaI allacI
on
lvadilionaI
IeIieJ
sslens,
and oJlen ecIoes
nan
oJ lIe
pvonouncenenls
oJ
niIiIisn,
NielzscIe Ias
JvequenlI
Ieen laIen lo Ie
a
niIiIisl. Bul
a
91
92 Lavvence J. HalaI
caveJuI
veading
oJ Iis
lIougIl
sIovs lIal lIe
queslion
oJ vIelIev
NielzscIe
vas a
niIiIisl nusl Ie ansveved IolI
es
and no
es,
iJ
niIiIisn neans
lIe deniaI oJ lvadilionaI IeIieJ
sslens:
no,
iJ il
neans
lIe deniaI oJ
an vaIue,
neaning
ov lvulI in lIe vovId.
A JvanevovI Jov lIis duaI
vesponse
lo lIe
queslion
Ias
aIvead
Ieen vovIed oul
I
BicIavd ScIacIl
|NielzscIe, 58-82).
Heve
I viII sunnavize lIe nain
poinls
oJ ScIacIl's
posilion,
and in lIe
upconing
seclion I viII
expand upon
lIen in lIe conlexl oJ
NielzscIe's
vvilings. 1)
NielzscIe
accepls
a
veslvicled Jovn oJ
niIiIisn lIal denies
a
veaIn oJ lvue
Ieing apavl
Jvon lIis vovId
and
a
lvanscendenlaII gvounded sslen
oJ vaIues.
2)
Bul NielzscIe
sees
conpIele
niIiIisn
|as
Ieve
deJined)
as
decadenl,
dangevous,
sonelIing
lo Ie ovevcone.
3) Accovding
lo
NielzcIe,
niIiIisn in
Jacl is vooled in lIe CIvislian-novaI lvadilion.
4)
NielzscIe Ias
a
duaI allilude lovavd niIiIisn
aJJivning
il iJ il is a
deslvuclive
lvansilion lo
a nev
vovId-viev:
dening
il iJ il is laIen
as an
end
in ilseIJ.
6)
Since NielzscIe advocales doclvines sucI as
lIe viII lo
povev
and elevnaI
vecuvvence,
and since Ie aJJivns lIe vaIue oJ
lIis
vovId,
lIen Ie cannol Ie consideved
a
niIiIisl in lIe slvicl
sense.
NielzscIe's
posilion,
I viII
avgue,
is sonevIeve Ielveen
niIiIin and lIe conslvucls oJ lvadilionaI
sslens. AIlIougI
a
NielzscIean
pevspeclive
Ias oJlen Ieen consideved
niIiIislic,
il in
Jacl
pvesenls
a nosl eJJeclive
cvilique
oJ,
and aIlevnalive
lo,
niIiIisn Iecause il aJJivns
neaning
and vaIue in lIe vovId vilIoul
sIing
ava
Jvon lIe davI
lIougIls
and
cIaIIenges
lIal Iave
spavned
niIiIislic doclvines.
IJ ve can
Ie cIeav aIoul NielzscIe's
posilion,
I lIinI ve can Ieavn
a
good
deaI aIoul niIiIisn and sone oJ lIe
consequenl pvoIIens
Jacing conlenpovav lIougIl.
One oJ lIe Iasic concIusions lIal viII
JoIIov Jvon
n anaIsis
is lIal
neaning
and vaIue ave in Jacl in
sepavaIIe
Jvon
negalivil.
Al lIe end oJ lIis
essa
I viII
allenpl
lo iIIuslvale lIis nolion
I appIing
il lo lIe issue oJ lIe
pevson
and
Iunan seIJIood.
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
93
NIETZSCHE ANB NIHILISM
NielzscIe cvilicizes nove
vadicaII
lIan
anone
IeJove Iin lIe
vev
Joundalions oJ veslevn
lIougIl.
He vevevses a
nunIev oJ
pviovilies
vIicI in vavious Jovns Iad IeId
sva
in ouv
cuIluve
Jvon
Ieing,
NielzscIe luvns lo
Ieconing,
Jvon
elevnil
lo
line,
Jvon
innulaIiIil
lo
cIange,
Jvon lvulI lo
appeavance.
Accovding
lo
NielzscIe,
veaIil
sIovs ilseIJ lo Ie
a JIux oJ
cIanging
Jovns
pevnealed I negalion,
aIlevnalion,
opposilion
and vavialion.
An
allenpl
lo undevsland
veaIil accovding
lo a
Jixed conslvucl?vIal
lIe lvadilion vouId caII
lvulI?is,
Jov
NielzscIe,
onI
an
appeavance,
a
lenpovav pevspeclive
in a
pvocess
oJ
Ieconing
vIicI
as
sucI
can nevev
Ie
gvasped.
NielzscIe
goes
IacI lo lIe OveeIs and nainlains lIal FIalo slavled
lIe
pvoIIen I pvoposing
an elevnaI veaIn oJ Jixed Jovns neanl
lo counlev lIe
inconslanc
oJ lIe Iived vovId. NielzscIe slavlIes us
I caIIing
FIalo's
gvand pIiIosopI
a
sign
oJ veaIness in lIe Jace oJ
IiJe,
an
inaIiIil
lo vilIsland lIe
lvagic
Iinils
on
individuaI Jovns.
SucI veaIness is aIso caIIed lIe navI oJ Ialev
pIiIosopIicaI
and
veIigious sslens
lIal
allenpled
lo vesoIve
ov covvecl lIe
negalivil
oJ lIe Iived vovId?eilIev
lIvougI
a
spiviluaI
lvanscendence oJ
line,
a
novaIislic lvanscendence oJ lIe
passions,
ov a
valionaIislic lvan
scendence oJ concvele
expevience.
In lIe nadnan
passage
in TIe
Oa
Science NielzscIe announces
lIe dealI oJ Ood as
lIe dvanalic Jocus oJ Iis inlenlions
|Seclion 125).
Since Ood Iad Ieen lIe uIlinale
snIoI
oJ
lvanscendence,
NielzscIe
veIcones lIe denise oJ sucI
an
iIIusion. Bul lIe dealI oJ Ood is
nol
sinpI
a
veIigious
issue,
and il cannol Ie laIen
IigIlI. Euvopean
lIougIl
Iad Ieen
gvaduaII Iosing
ils
veIigious
cove
since lIe
Benaissance,
Iul lIe levviIIe
inpIicalions
oJ
a
godIess
vovId veve nol
Ieing
Jaced. Fov
NielzscIe,
lIe dealI oJ Ood is
equivaIenl
lo lIe end
oJ lvulI. Bivine lvanscendence Iad Ieen lIe
guavanlee
Jov aII sovls oJ
cuIluvaI conslvucls. Even
pIiIosopIevs
and scienlisls vIo Iad IiIevaled
lIenseIves Jvon
popuIav
IeIieJ nainlained
a
Ood
concepl
as an
uIlinale veJevence
poinl
Jov lvulI cIains. WilIoul
Ood,
ve ave
IeJl
onI
vilI
Ieconing,
and secuIav
sslens
vIicI conlinue lo seeI
a
vesoIulion oJ lIe
negalivil
oJ exislence
|e.g.,
novaIisn,
oplinisn,
94
Lavvence /.
HalaI
scienlisn)
cannol cIain
an
uIlinale
jusliJicalion.
Anong
non-IeIievevs,
no one
Ias laIen Ood nove
seviousI
lIan
NielzscIe.
AIlIougI
Ie sees
lIe dealI oJ Ood
as
necessav |lIeve
Ias nevev
Ieen
a
gvealev deed),
nevevlIeIess Ood vas lIe IoIiesl
and
nigIliesl
oJ aII lIal lIe vovId Ias
el ovned,
lIe Joundalion
oJ ouv enlive cuIluve. WIen ve sacviJice
Ood,
ve
Iave uncIained
lIis eavlI Jvon ils
sun,
and
ve ave
slvaing
as
lIvougI
an
inJinile
nolIing.
In olIev
vovds,
lIe dealI oJ Ood Ieaves us
vilI
nolIing,
and lIus lIe
possiIiIil
oJ niIiIisn.
Bul valIev lIan advocale
niIiIisn,
vIicI Ie caIIs lIe vadicaI
vepucialion
oJ
vaIue,
neaning
and
desivaIiIil |WiII,
Seclion
1.1),
NielzscIe announces
niIiIisn as a
cvisis,
a
dangev
Jov veslevn
cuIluve,
sonelIing palIoIogicaI |WiII,
Seclion
13),
a
polenliaI calaslvopIe
|WiII,
FveJace Seclion
2).
In
Jacl,
NielzscIe cIains lIal niIiIisn is vooled in lIe
vev
CIvislian novaI lvadilion lIal Ie
opposes |WiII,
Seclon
1.1).
SucI a
cIain,
I
lIinI,
nusl Ie undevslood in a
lvo-JoId sense
Fivsl,
niIiIisn
vouId Ie
a
consequence
oJ lIe
coIIapse
oJ lIe
lvadilion,
oJ lIe
lvadilion
Iosing
ils
jusliJicalion:
Iul in
addilion,
niIiIisn vouId sIov
ilseIJ lo Ie
a
pevpelualion
oJ lIe
lvadilion,
indeed lo Ie lIe Ievelo
Jove undiscIosed essence oJ lIal lvadilion.
In lIe 19lI
Cenluv, Euvopean lIougIl Iegan
lo undevnine nucI
oJ ils ovn
Ievilage, especiaII lIvougI
scienliJic
cvilique.
NiIiIisn
vouId
vepvesenl
lIe nosl exlvene
consequence
oJ sucI
a
deveIop
nenl,
vIen lIe
IigIesl
vaIues devaIuale lIenseIves and lIe vovId
appeavs genevaII
ainIess
|WiII,
Seclion
2).
Bul NielzscIe delecls
a
suIlIe
ivon
Ieve. In niIiIisn Ie nolices lIe viII lo lvulI?vIicI
vas
Iovn in lIe
CIvislian-Euvopean
lvadilion?nov
luvning againsl
lIal lvadilion and
concIuding
lIal aII is JaIse
|WiII,
Seclion
1.2).
TIe
unlenaIiIil
oJ lIe oId viev Ieads lo lIe
suspician
lIal aII
inlevpvela
lions oJ lIe vovId
ave
JaIse
|WiII,
Seclion
1.3).
Bul sucI
a
negalive
univevsaI
inpIicil
assunes lIal lIe
posilive
doclvines
Ieing vejecled
ave
lIe
onI possiIIe
doclvines. To
sa
lIal aII is JaIse is lo sliII
assune lIal
lvulI, i.e.,
sone Iind oJ Jixed
conslvucl,
is lIe
onI
va
lo
pvopevI
undevsland lIe
vovId,
Iul lIal sucI
a conslvucl
cannol Ie Jound.
In
Jacl,
NielzscIe
pvoposes
lIal niIiIislic unIeIieJ Iecones ils ovn
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
95
Iind oJ
dogna,
a
pecuIiav
Jovn oJ
cevlainl
lIal is
sinpI
a vevevse
inage
oJ lvadilionaI doclvines oJ lvulI. NiIiIisn is caIIed IeIieJ in
unIeIieJ and is incIuded in lIe
suppovl sslens
lIal NielzscIe
cIains slen Jvon veaIness
|Oa, 347).
In
a
line oJ cuIluvaI
un
cevlainl
and
upIeavaI |e.g.,
lIe dealI oJ
Ood)
niIiIisn anounls
lo
Ieing
a
pveJevence
Jov lIe
cevlainl
oJ
nolIingness
ovev a
condi
lion oJ
uncevlainl |Beond,
Seclion
10).
No nallev Iov
couvageous
niIiIisn
nigIl appeav,
il is sliII
a
sign
oJ
despaiv
and veaIness
|Beond,
Seclion
10).
No nallev Iov Jvee niIiIisls
nigIl appeav,
lIe
sliII cannol Ie consideved
genuine
Jvee
spivils
Iecause
lIe
sliII Iave JailI in lvulI
|OeneaIog,
III,
Seclion
24).
So IolI
a
suIslanlive aJJivnalion and deniaI oJ4'lvulI sIov lIal
lIe lvadilion and niIiIisn
ave
IolI sliII Iound
I
lIe cvilevion oJ
lvulI,
and
consequenlI I
a
vejeclion
oJ lIe condilions oJ
a
vovId
oJ
Ieconing.
WilI
vespecl
lo lIis
vovId,
IolI lIe lvadilion and
niIiIisn Jind no
vaIue,
neaning
ov
lvulI in il. TIe
onI
diJJevence is
lIal lIe lvadilion
pvoposed
aIlevnalives lo a
vovId oJ
Ieconing,
vIiIe niIiIisn
|vigIlI)
Jinds none. Fov
NielzscIe,
niIiIisn is
jusl
as
pvoIIenalic
as
lIe
lvadilion,
even nove so
Iecause il dvavs oul
and isoIales lIe
negalive
side oJ lvadilionaI IeIieJ
sslens?naneI
a
deniaI oJ lIe Iived vovId?Iul nov
vilIoul lvadilionaI aIlevnalives
|vIicI
al Ieasl Josleved
a
posilive pvaclicaI alnospIeve).
Bul since
aIlevnalives nevev Iad
an
jusliJicalion,
niIiIisn couId Ie caIIed lIe
uncoveved essence oJ lIe veslevn lvadilion.
Fov
NielzscIe,
pvevious sslens
oJ
veIigion, pIiIosopI,
even
science,
vilI lIeiv
vespeclive
cvilevia oJ lvulI and
Ieing,
aII
vepvesenl
vIal couId Ie caIIed
inpIicil
niIiIisn Iecause
lIe
cannol accono
dale,
enduve ov vaIue lIe innediale vovId. Bul since lIis
vovId,
Jov
NielzscIe,
is lIe
onI
vovId,
lIen lIese
sslens' posilive
pvoposaIs
ave in Jacl vavious
iIIusov
ovnanenls Jov
nolIingness.2
TIe
deniaI oJ lvadilionaI IeIieJ
sslens,
vilIoul
a
vevaIualion oJ lIe
vovId,
couId Ie caIIed
expIicil
niIiIisn. SucI
an oulcone is nove
veaIislic lIan lIe lvadilion and is IeneJiciaI in
vejecling
lIe cIains
oJ lIal
lvadilion,
Iul il is aIso
dangevous.
NiIiIisn
vigIlI vecog
nizes lIal
ve
Iave
no
vigIl
lo
posil
a
divine
ov
novaI
Ieond,
Iul ils concIusion is lIe aIsoIule
unlenaIiIil
oJ exislence
|WiII,
Seclion
3).
In lIis
va,
niIiIisn sIovs ilseIJ lo Ie lIe
disappoinled
96 La vvence
J.
HalaI
posilivisn
oJ lIe veslevn
lvadilion,
an
oulIooI vIicI
vecognizes
Ieconing
as lIe
onI veaIil,
Iul vIicI cannol enduve il
|WiII
Seclion
12A).
NiIiIisn
vigIlI
denies lIe
calegovies
oJ
ain,
unil,
lvulI and
Ieing,
Iul lIe vovId
nov
IooIs vaIueIess
|WiII,
Seclion
12
A).
WilI lIe denise oJ lvadilionaI
vaIues,
lIe vovId seens lo Iave
Iosl
vaIue,
seens
neaningIess.
Bul
accovding
lo
NielzscIe,
lIis is
onI
a
lvansilionaI
slage |WiII,
Seclion
7).
NiIiIisn couId Ie
a
good
sign |WiII,
Seclion
111),
Iul
onI
as a
passing
ava
oJ lIe lvadilion
lIal
pevnils
a nev advance
|WiII,
Seclion
112).
A davaIualion oJ
lIe
calegovies
oJ
ain,
unil,
lvulI and
Ieing
is no
Iongev
an
veason
Jov
devaIualing
lIe univevse
|WiII,
Seclion
12B).
NiIiIisn
na
Ie
IiIevaled Jvon lIe Jiclions oJ lIe
lvadilion,
Iul il is nol IiIevaled
Jvon lIe
va
lIe vovId Ias Ieen eslinaled. TIal eslinalion Ias
Ieen lIe niIiIislic essence oJ veslevn
lIougIl |vIelIev inpIicil
ov
expIicil),
and NielzscIe insisls lIal il sIouId Ie
vepIaced I
a
vevaIualion oJ lIe vovId. TIeve is an
uvgenl
need Jov
nev
vaIues
vIevein lIe vovId
nigIl
Ie Jav nove vaIuaIIe lIan
ve used lo
IeIieve
|WiII,
Seclion
32).
NielzscIe
pvoposes
a
lIinIing
vIicI is
IiIevaled Jvon IolI lIe lvadilion and ils niIiIislic oulcone. SucI
a
lIinIing
viII Ie
a
vedenplion
oJ lIe
vovId,
a
vedenplion
Jvon lIe cuvse lIal lIe IilIevlo
veigning
ideaI Ias
Iaid
upon
il. TIis nan oJ lIe
Juluve,
vIo viII vedeen
us nol
onI
Jvon lIe IilIevlo
veigning
ideaI Iul aIso lIal vIicI vas
Iound lo
gvov
oul oJ
il,
lIe
gveal
nausea,
lIe viII lo
nolIingness,
niIiIisn:
lIis IeII-slvoIe oJ noon and oJ lIe
gveal
decision lIal
IiIevales lIe viII
again
and vesloves ils
goaI
lo
lIe eavlI and Iis
Iope
lo
nan: lIis AnlicIvisl and
anliniIiIisl:
lIis viclov ovev Ood
and
nolIingness-Jle
nusl cone one
da.
|OeneaIog, II,
Seclion
24.)
NIETZSCHE'S ALTEBNATIVE TO NIHILISM
UIlinaleI,
NielzscIe is
anlIing
Iul
a
niIiIisl. As ScIacIl
poinls
oul,
NielzscIe's caII Jov a vevaIualion oJ vaIues cannol Ie con
sideved
a
niIiIislic
pvoposaI |NielzscIe, 77).
OJlen
enougI,
NielzscIe
cIeavI
slales lIal novenenls IiIe niIiIisn and
pessinisn
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
97
ave
opposile
lo Iis
ovn
inlenlions.3 Bul niIiIisn can
Ie ovevcone
onI
vIen lvadilionaI slandavds oJ lvulI and
Ieing
ave ovev
cone,
Iecause sucI slandavds
veve
Iound lo
den
a
vovId oJ Ie
coning.
In lIe
IigIl
oJ sucI
slandavds,
lIe vovId Iecane
JaIse,
and
pveciseI
on accounl oJ lIe
pvopev
lies lIal conslilule ils
veaIil cIange, Ieconing, nuIlipIicil,
opposilion,
conlvadiclion,
vav.
|WiII,
Seclion
584)
SucI
a
pvesunplion
is lIe vool oJ niIiIisn and nusl Ie
vepIaced I
a
lIinIing
lIal is
appvopviale
Jov
a
vovId oJ
Ieconing.
To eIucidale
lIal aIlevnalive
lIinIing,
al lIis
poinl
I viII
IvieJI
addvess lvo
inages
lIal
Jiguve pvoninenlI
in NielzscIe's
lIougIl, naneI
avl
and lIe viII lo
povev.
NielzscIe caIIs avl a
counlevnovenenl lo lIe deJicienl
sslens
oJ lIe veslevn lvadilion
|WiII,
Seclion
794).
Il is
inpovlanl
lo
vecognize
lIal NielzscIe oJlen
enpIos
lIe levn avl in a
vev Ivoad,
aInosl
nelapIsicaI
sense. Fov
exanpIe,
Ie caIIs lIe vovId a vovI
oJ avl lIal
gives
IivlI lo ilseIJ
|WiII,
Seclion
796).
So lIe
nove
navvov sense oJ avl vouId Junclion
as a
nelapIov
Jov
a
genevaI
viev oJ lIe vovId
lIal,
Jov
NielzscIe,
is nove
appvopviale
Jov lIe
condilions oJ
Ieconing.
TIe
pIenonenon
oJ avl
dispIas
Jealuves lIal
ave
opposile
lo lIe
lvadilionaI cvilevion oJ
Ieing
and Jixed slandavds oJ
oIjeclive
lvulI.
Avl invoIves
cvealion,
Ivinging-JovlI,
pvocess,
an
open-ended aclivil
lIal
can nevev Ie veduced lo
an
Jixed Jovn. Fov
NielzscIe,
Jovn
and
neaning
ave nevev an
oIjeclive
pvesence
lIal slands
as a
given.
TIe
ave
conlinuaII IvougIl
JovlI in a cvealive
pvocess
lIal
dispIaces
oId Jovns and JasIions
nev Jovns oul oJ
a
pviov
JovnIess
ness?a
pvocess,
lIeveJove,
lIal is consliluled
I
a
posilive-negalive
inlevpIa.
ConsequenlI,
a
cvealive individuaI is nol
vepuIsed I
condilions
oJ
Ieconing, opposilion, negalivil
and
openness,
Iul is valIev
exciled
I
lIen since
lIe
ave
insepavaIIe
Jvon lIe
vev
naluve
oJ
cvealivil.
Cvealive
aclivil
sIovs ilseIJ lo Ie
conlvav
lo lIe
nolion oJ Jixed
delevninalions,
and lIeveJove
conlvav
lo
pvevious
slandavds oJ lvulI. In lIis
conlexl,
NielzscIe's aJJivnalion oJ avl
98 Lavvence J.
HalaI
anounls lo a
svilcI in lIe lvadilionaI dislinclion Ielveen lvulI
and
appeavance.
WIeve lIe lvadilion Iad vvillen lvulI
|Jixed Jovn),
NielzscIe
nov
vviles
appeavance |a Jovn-ing pevnealed I negaliv
il):
vIeve lIe lvadilion Iad vvillen
appeavance |condilions
oJ
Ieconing),
NielzscIe
nov vviles Iis ovn nolion oJ lvulI
|lIe
JovnIess
negalivil
oJ
a
pvinaI JIux).
Since avl invoIves cvealive
appeavances
in lIe nidsl oJ a
conlinuaI
JIux,
il Iecones
an
appvo
pviale nelapIov
Jov
a
vovId-viev lIal is consonanl vilI lIe condi
lions oJ
Ieconing. ConsequenlI,
avl is nove lvulIJuI lIan lvadi
lionaI slandavds oJ lvulI. TIis
logelIev
vilI NielzscIe's IeIieJ
lIal
cvealivil
is a
seIJ-genevaled aclivil
vIicI
I
ils naluve in
voIves
jo,
aJJivnalion and
JuIJiIInenl,
Ieads Iin lo concIude lIal
avl is an
anlidole lo niIiIisn and
pessinisn |WiII,
Seclions
821, 852,
853).
Il sIouId Ie
poinled
oul lIal NielzscIe considevs aII Iunan
lIougIl, incIuding
lvadilionaI IeIieJ
sslens,
lo Ie
a
Jovn oJ
avl,
pevspeclivaI
cvealions in lIe nidsl oJ
Ieconing |WiII,
Seclion
853).
Hovevev,
lIe lvadilion did nol see
ilseIJ
as
sucI,
Iul valIev
as a
dis
covev
oJ
oIjeclive,
Jixed
lvulIs,
oJ
enduving pvincipIes.
TIal
assunplion
Josleved lIe conJIicl
vilI,
and
vejeclion
oJ,
lIe condi
lions oJ
Ieconing,
and lIus lIe inIevenl niIiIisn oJ lIe lvadilion.
Fov
NielzscIe,
lIe nolion oJ
avl,
oJ non-suIslanliaI cvealive
appeavances,
is nol
onI
consislenl vilI lIe
va
oJ lIe
vovId,
il can aIso vedeen lIe vaIue oJ lIe vovId. As Ie
pul
il in Iis Jivsl
puIIisIed
vovI lIe exislence oJ lIe vovId is
jusliJied onI
as an
aeslIelic
pIenonenon
|BivlI,
Fivsl FveJace Seclion
5).
In
a
siniIav
va,
NielzscIe's nolovious doclvine oJ lIe viII lo
povev
is oJJeved
as a counlevnovenenl lo niIiIisn
|WiII,
FveJace
Seclion
4).
TIe viII lo
povev
is decIaved lo Ie lIe
vev
essence oJ
veaIil.
TIis vovId is lIe viII lo
povev?and nolIing
Iesides! And
ou
ouvseIves
ave aIso lIis viII lo
povev?and nolIing
Iesides!
|WiII,
Seclion
1067)
Bul lIe viII lo
povev,
unIiIe lvadilionaI
doclvines,
is consliluled
I Ieconing, opposlion
and
negalivil.
Il is lIe cvealive seIJ
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
99
assevlion oJ viII oul oJ JovnIessness and ovev
exisling
Jovns. TIe
nolion oJ
povev expvesses
lIe
dnanics
oJ a
pvocess
in vIicI indivi
duaI
povev-unils
enevge
al lIe
expense
oJ eacI olIev in
pevpeluaI
Ieconing.
NielzscIe's
concepl
oJ lIe viII lo
povev
is oJlen laIen lo nean
sonelIing
oninous. Bul il is
inpovlanl
lo
vecognize
lIal ils
neaning
sIouId nol Ie Iiniled lo
sonelIing
IiIe
pIsicaI
Jovce
ov acls oJ
cvueIl. Accovding
lo
NielzscIe,
lIe viII lo
povev
is al lIe Ieavl oJ
aII
acls,
IolI IvulaI and
suIIine,
and aII Iunan conslvucls. Even
CIvislianil
and
pIenonena
sucI as
paciJisn
can Ie caIIed viII lo
povev,
vIicI sIouId lIeveJove Ie descviIed
as
lIe cvealive Jovnalion
and aJJivnalion oJ
neaning. An
sucI
aJJivnalion,
in lIe conlexl oJ
ils
enevgence
in Iunan
exislence,
avises in lIe nidsl oJ vesislance
and
opposilion
Jvon counlev-Jovces. EacI
aJJivnalion, lIeveJove,
incIudes lIe
negalion
oJ an
olIev. TIe
dnanic aspecl
oJ lIe viII
lo
povev
is neanl lo
capluve
lIis
aJJivnalion-negalion
covveIalion.
Fovev is IolI assevlion and
deniaI,
povev Jov
oneseIJ and oi:ev sone
olIev. TIe viII lo
povev
is veJIecled in aII Jovns oJ
exislence,
eacI oJ vIicI invoIves lIe
ovevconing
oJ
sonelIing.
Fov
exanpIe,
even
paciJisn
nusl Ie acIieved in lIe nidsl oJ
counlev-Jovces:
il
discovevs and
posils
lIe vaIue oJ
passivil,
as a
supeviov
Jovn oJ
IiJe:
il
expIicilI judges
and
vejecls
acls oJ
pIsicaI
vioIence:
paciJisls
ave
JuIJiIIed
I,
and exaIl
in,
lIe
ovevconing
oJ deslvuclive
inpuIses
in
Iunan naluve.
An
Jovn oJ
exislence, lIen,
invoIves
a
pvocess
oJ
ovevconing.
TIe viII lo
povev expvesses
lIis
pvocess
vIicI
genevales
aII eslaIIisI
nenls oJ
neaning.
Il couId Ie said lIal lvadilionaI doclvines Jocused
onI
on
lIe
pvoducls
oJ sucI
a
pvocess, ignoving
lIe exislenliaI
selling
in vIicI sucI
pvoducls
veve
IvougIl
JovlI. TIe viII lo
povev
is neanl lo veJIecl lIe
posilive-negalive inlevpIa
in lIe cvealion oJ
an neaning.
In lIe
Iavgain,
lIis doclvine aIso avoids lIe devaIualion
oJ
a
vovId oJ
Ieconing:
in
Jacl,
il
vequives
lIe aJJivnalion oJ sucI
a
vovId. In lIis
va,
NielzscIe
pvesenls
lIe viII lo
povev uIlinaleI
as an
anli-niIiIisl
pvoposaI.
In
genevaI,
NielzscIe's aIlevnalive lo niIiIisn can Ie sunned
up
in Iis nolion oJ
lvagic
visdon,
vIicI can Ie deJined as JoIIovs
TIe aJJivnalion oJ cvealive advenls oJ
neaning
vIicI al lIe
sane
100 La vvence
J.
HalaI
line
acInovIedges
lIe Iinil oJ aII slvucluves. As
a
sIeev cvealive
pvocess,
lIe
naIing
oJ
neaning
IacIs lIe lvadilionaI
vequivenenl
oJ
a
JoundalionaI
gvound.
WIal does
pevsisl
is lIe
pvinaI negalivil
oJ
Ieconing,
vIicI vendevs aII Jovns
Jinile,
lenpovav
and
non
suIslanliaI?Iul nol on lIal accounl
neaningIess.
Indeed il is lIe
negalivil
oJ
Ieconing
lIal conslilules lIe eslaIIisInenl oJ
neaning.
Since NielzscIe's
posilion
veJIecls
a
posilive-negalive inlevpIa,
il
sIouId lIeveJove Ie
pIaced
sonevIeve Ielveen niIiIisn and lvadi
lionaI slandavds oJ lvulI.
FuvlIevnove,
Jvon
an
IislovicaI ov
deveIop
nenlaI
slandpoinl,
NielzscIe
sav Iis
pIiIosopI noving ava
Jvon
lvadilionaI slandavds
lIvougI
niIiIisn. NielzscIe adnils lo
Iaving
Ieen
a
niIiIisl
|WiII,
Seclion
25,
FveJace
3),
Iul Ie aIso cIains lo
Iave Iived
lIvougI
il and IeJl il IeIind
|WiII,
FveJace
3).
He
sas
Iis nev
diveclion
pvesupposes niIiIisn,
IolI
IogicaII
and
pscIo
IogicaII.
NiIiIisn nusl Ie Jaced and
expevienced
so lIal
pvevious
vaIues can Ie undevslood and nev
vaIues
can
Ie
pvepaved |WiII,
FveJace
4):
il seens lo Ie
IislovicaII necessav
as a
deslvuclive
disnanlIing
oJ lvadilionaI IeIieJ
sslens |WiII,
Seclions
22,
24).
Bul il is aIso cIeav lIal NielzscIe
uIlinaleI vejecls
IolI lvadilionaI
slandavds oJ
neaning
and niIiIislic doclvine oJ
neaningIessness
|WiII,
Seclion
1.4).
He does aJJivn
neaning
and vaIue in lIe
vovId,
Iul vilIoul Jixed slandavds lIal
allenpl
lo covvecl lIe
negalivil
oJ
exislence,
and aIso vilIoul lIe
conpIele negalivisn
oJ niIiIislic
deniaI.
In
cIosing
lIis
seclion,
I vouId IiIe lo nenlion anolIev
inpovlanl
sense in vIicI NielzscIe's
posilion
Iies Ielveen lvo exlvenes. As
lIe nadnan
passage
indicales,
NielzscIe slands Ielveen
a)
lIe
gvieving
IeIieJ lIal
a
Ioss oJ Joundalions
engendevs IopeIessness
and
despaiv,
and
I)
lIe
casuaI,
lIougIlIess
allilude lIal sucI
a Ioss is
eilIev
uninpovlanl
ov
eas
lo laIe.
Accovding
lo
NielzscIe,
lIe Ioss
oJ lvadilionaI
suppovl sslens
is a
nonunenlaI cvisis. In
Jacl,
Ie
caIIed lIe CIvislian-novaI vovId-viev
a
gveal
anlidole lo
pvaclicaI
and lIeovelicaI niIiIisn
|WiII,
Seclion
4). AIlIougI
lIal viev is lo
Ie
opposed,
one sIouId nol undeveslinale lIe vaIue il Iad in
pvo
lecling Iunanil
Jvon
despaiv
and
neaningIessness.
TIe
coIIapse
oJ
lIal lvadilion is
a
dangevous luvning poinl
lIal
vequives
caveJuI
vevaIualion oJ aII cuIluvaI
slandpoinls:
olIevvise,
accovding
lo
NielzscIe,
N?iiIisn and
Meaning
Ioi
NielzscIe,
ve viII JaII
pve
lo niIiIisn.
ConsequenlI,
NielzscIe
poses
lIe
JoIIoving disjunclive vavning
lo lIe Wesl EilIev a lIinI
ing
lIal
can
vedeen lIe vovId
on
ils ovn
levns,
ov
niIiIisn.
AIlIougI
NielzscIe
eagevI
vovIed Jov lIe denise oJ lvadilionaI
IeIieJ
sslens, pevIaps
no one looI
nove
seviousI
lIe
dangev
and
denands oJ lIal denise.
NEOATIVITY ANB MEANINO
WeII,
vIal nov? I sIouId
sa
lIal I sIave NielzscIe's viev lIal lIe
veslevn lvadilion veveaIs
a
Iind oJ
inpIicil,
ov al Ieasl
polenliaI
niIiIisn vIen il cones lo innediale Iived
expevience
and lIe vovId
as ve Iave il. I aIso sIave lIe viev lIal lIe dealI oJ
Ood,
an
inage
Jov lIe
conlenpovav
denise oJ lvadilionaI
conJidences,
Ieaves us
vilI
no
uIlinale
jusliJicalion
ov
Joundalion Jov Iasic vaIues and
assunplions
ve
IoId deav. NeilIev sluIIovn allacInenl lo lIe
lvadilion
nov nev
allenpls
lo veconlvucl a
Joundalion
can,
I
lIinI,
suvvive lIe
cIaIIenge
oJ
a
lIinIev IiIe NielzscIe.
Bul vIeve does lIal Ieave us? One oulcone oJ lIe dealI oJ Ood
couId Ie
expIicil
niIiIisn. AnolIev oulcone couId Ie lIe
non
pIiIosopIicaI
avoidance oJ lIe cvisis
avising
Jvon lIe dealI oJ
Ood,
luvning
a deaJ
eav lo lIe
deep
cuIluvaI
queslions concevning
lIe
naluve and
IacIgvound
oJ ouv nosl Iasic
assunplions.
EilIev oJ
lIese
oulcones,
I
lIinI,
vouId Ie IolI
unacceplaIIe
and dan
gevous.
NielzscIe,
as ve Iave
seen,
sIovs lIe
va
Jov anolIev
possiIiIil.
I vouId IiIe lo
avgue
Jov
a
Iind oJ nodiJied
niIiIisn,
vIicI
laIes
on
lIe
negalivil
ecIoed in lIe
niIiI,
and
el
does nol
succunI lo
conpIele negalivisn
and
neaningIessness,
and does
nol suvvendev lIe cuIluvaI
queslions
oJ
neaning
and vaIue.
SinpI
pul, n
lIesis is lIis
Meaning
and
vaIue,
valIev lIan
Ieing
a vesoIu
lion
oJ,
ov veIieJ Jvon
negalivil,
ave in Jacl
insepavaIIe
Jvon
nega
livil.
SucI
a
pvoposaI
vouId Ie neilIev niIiIislic
nov an
allenpl
lo
gvound neaning
and vaIue in sone
posilive pvincipIe,
condilion
ov slale oJ aJJaivs.
Because oJ
IenglI
Iinilalions,
I viII Iinil
n
discussion oJ lIis
lIesis lo lIe
speciJic
issue oJ Iunan seIJIood and lIe
pevson |lIe
102 Lavvence J.
HalaI
levns seIJ and
pevson
viII Ie used sonevIal
inlevcIangeaII).
I
lvusl lIal sucI
a Jocus viII
exenpIiJ
lIe
genevaI
Jealuves oJ
n
pvoposaI.
I sIouId add lIal lIe lIesis is in
pavl
an
anaIganalion
oJ inJIuences Jvon NielzscIe and vvilevs sucI
as
Heideggev
and
Savlve. In
genevaI,
I an
advocaling
vIal couId
IooseI
Ie caIIed
an
exislenliaI
inlevpvelalion
oJ Iunan
seIJIood,
one lIal laIes
up
Jinilude and
negalivil
as lIe
vev
essence oJ Iunan naluve.
TIe nolion oJ
a
seIJ ov
pevson speaIs
lo lIe essenliaI Jealuve
oJ
ouv
Iunan
naluve,
lIal vIicI
vadicaII dislinguisIes
us Jvon
olIev enlilies
|ve
do nol descviIe
oIjecls
ov
olIev aninaIs
as
seIves
ov
pevsons).
TIeve ave a nunIev oJ
vas
in vIicI lIe Iunan seIJ
can Ie undevslood. I viII addvess Jouv Iasic
pevspeclives
in levns
oJ lIe
JoIIoving calegovies 1)
lIe
nelapIsicaI
seIJ,
2)
lIe
poIilico
IegaI
seIJ,
3)
lIe novaI
seIJ,
and
4)
lIe
pevsonaI
seIJ. I viII
allenpl
lo sIov lIal eacI
calegov
can Ie avlicuIaled in levns oJ
n genevaI
lIesis,
vIicI in lIis
speciJic appIicalion
viII nov vun as
JoIIovs
WIal il neans lo Ie
a
seIJ
ov
pevson enevges
in lIe nidsl oJ
a
vadicaI,
pevvasive negalivil.
THE METAFHYSICAL SELF
SucI
a levn is neanl lo
designale
a
Iind oJ suIslanliaI
enlil,
a JoundalionaI Iasis Jov Iunan
naluve,
lIe seavcI Jov vIicI
occupied
nucI oJ veslevn
lIougIl.
A nunIev oJ
pIiIosopIevs
in lIe Modevn
peviod
looI
up
lIe
queslion
oJ
a
nelapIsicaI
seIJ,
lIeiv
pvinav
ovienlalion
Ieing
lIe
cognilive
Junclion oJ sucI
a
seIJ in levns oJ
idenlil lIvougI
line and lIe uniJicalion oJ
expevience.
Bescavles
aJJivned lIe exislence oJ
a
nelapIsicaI
seIJ in Iis Jocus on lIe
cogilo,
a
seIJ-conscious
lIinIing
suIslance vIicI enduves
lIvougI
line and vIicI inluils lIe
pvincipIes
lIal vesoIve lIe uncevlainlies
oJ
sense
epevience.
Hune,
vilI Iis
enpivicaI
slandavd,
Jound
no
evidence Jov sucI
a
seIJ,
and caIIed il
a
useJuI Jiclion. Kanl
agveed
lIal lIe seIJ is nol an
oIjecl
oJ
expevience
ov
conciousness,
Iul
aJJivned ils exislence
as lIe lvanscendenlaI condilion Jov lIe
possiIiIil
oJ uniJied
InovIedge
cIains.
Bespile
lIeiv
disagveenenls,
eacI
agveed
lIal lIe levn seIJ veJevs lo sone Iind oJ uniJied
enlil.
An exislenliaI
appvoacI
lo lIe seIJ is
vev
diJJevenl in lIal il is
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
103
nol Iiniled lo
cognilive
Junclions:
il
engages
lIe JuII
vange
oJ Iunan
concevns lIal
occup
us in innediale Iived
expevience
enolionaI
vesponses, Iopes
and
Jeavs,
success and
JaiIuve,
gain
and
Ioss,
IiJe
and dealI. SucI
a
pevspeclive
sIovs lIal Iunan exislence is nevev
Jixed and
sellIed,
Iul valIev
a
conlinuing
conJvonlalion vilI
cIange,
Iinils and
negalive
Jovces. FIenonena sucI
as
Jeav,
anxiel
and
uncevlainl
lIal
acconpan
lIe novenenls oJ IiJe
exenpIiJ
lIe
Iunan condilion oJ Jinilude. AII
lIings
in lIe vovId
ave
Jinile,
cIanging
and
Iiniled,
Iul Iunans
ave avave oJ lIis condilion
as
sucI
and inlevnaIize il as
pavl
oJ lIeiv
Ieing.
So lIe navI oJ Iunan
exislence is lIal il dveIIs in
negalive
Iinils,
in lIe
posilive-negalive
inlevpIa
oJ Jinilude.
In lIe
IigIl
oJ
an
exislenliaI
pevspeclive,
lIe seIJ cannol Ie
adequaleI
descviIed
as a
posilive enlil
Iecause
Ieing
a
Iunan
seIJ is
pevvaded I negalivil.
Bul sucI a concIusion does nol enlaiI
a
lIveal lo Iunan
neaning:
valIev,
il avlicuIales lIe
va
in vIicI
neaning
is discIosed in lIe
vovId,
lIvougI
lIe lension oJ Jinilude.
Even al lIe nosl Iasic
onloIogicaI
IeveI,
Iunan avaveness oJ
Ieing
is
insepavaIIe
Jvon lIe
conlvasling
avaveness oJ
non-Ieing.
OlIev
aspecls
oJ exislence
dispIa
lIe
sane Iind oJ
posilive-negalive
covveIalion lIe
neaning
oJ IiJe is
insepavaIIe
Jvon
dealI,
lIe vaIue
oJ success is
insepavaIIe
Jvon
JaiIuve,
lIe vaIue oJ ovdev is
insepavaIIe
Jvon
disovdev,
and
so on.
Again,
il is lIe lension oJ Jinilude and
Iinils lIal lIvusls
us inlo lIe
concevns vIicI
occup
ouv exislence
and
genevale neaning.
Fov
exisling
Iunan
Ieings,
a
conpIeleI
posilive,
IinilIess slale vouId
Ie,
al
Iesl,
sonelIing
ve cannol
descviIe in JaniIiav
levns,
ov al
vovsl,
a
condilion oJ ullev nean
ingIessness.
As
a
consequence, an allenpl
lo descviIe Iunan naluve in
puveI posilive
levns
|vIelIev
il Ie
an
enduving
souI,
ov naleviaI
slales,
ov a sel oJ
JacuIlies,
elc.)
cannol
capluve
lIe
negalivil
so
evidenl in ouv exislence. A Iunan
Ieing
cannol Ie veduced lo an
enlil |vIelIev oIjeclive
ov
suIjeclive),
cannol Ie said lo
possess'
ov
Ie a seIJ. Bul lIis does nol nean
lIal lIe
Ianguage
oJ seIJIood
ov
pevsonIood
is Jiclilious
ov need Ie aIandoned. TIe
neaning
oJ
lIal
Ianguage
and lIe
vas
in vIicI
ve use il
slen,
I
lIinI,
Jvon
lIe condilions oJ Jinilude and
negalivil.
Fov
exanpIe,
I vouId
avgue
104
Lavvence
J.
HalaI
lIal lIe
pvoposed
eIusiveness oJ Iunan naluve aninales lIe
inleviov diveclion in nucI oJ lIe
Ianguage
oJ seIJ. SucI
inleviovil
sIouId Ie laIen
as a
nelapIov expvessing
lIe
Iidden, i.e.,
non
oIjeclive,
non-veiJiaIIe dinensions oJ Iunan exislence.
Il is
Ieing
in lIe nidsl oJ
negalivil
lIal
dislinguisIes
Iunans,
and lIis dislinclion is al lIe Ieavl oJ seIJ-and
pevson-Ianguage.
Moveovev,
since olIev
Ieings
do nol exIiIil lIe sane Iind oJ exis
lenliaI encounlev vilI
Jinilude,
ve
Jind
a
va
lo velain lIe
Iong
IeId
|and,
I
lIinI, covvecl)
inluilion lIal Iunans ave
essenliaII
diJJevenl Jvon olIev
Ieings,
vIicI accounls Jov
ouv nol
ascviIing
seIJIood lo lIen. We ave seIves nol Iecause ve ave a
diJJevenl
enlil,
Iul Iecause ve ave nol an
enlil.
UnIiIe olIev
Ieings,
negalivil
lIvusls
us
inlo lIe vovId in
a
unique
va,
unique
Ie
cause
lIe
vev
Ieing
and
neaning
oJ lIe vovId is discIosed
lIvougI
lIis
negalivil.4
AnolIev
va
oJ
avlicuIaling
lIe
negalivil
oJ Iunan exislence is
lo
sa
lIal lIe seIJ is
essenliaII
a
lenpovaI pvocess
vIicI
nevev
Iecones Jixed. TIe Iunan
pvesenl
is
a
dnanic
nonenl-un,
a
galIeving
in vIicI acIievenenls ave
passing
ovev
inlo lIe no
Iongev
oJ lIe
pasl,
and
ave dvavn Jovvavd
I
lIe
nol-el
oJ
Juluve
polenliaIilies.
SucI
lenpovaI negalivil
sIovs lIal lIe Iunan
seIJ is nol a
Ieing
Iul valIev
a
Ieconing, sonelIing
vIicI is
nevev Jixed as
Iong
as
il exisls.
SpeciJic
allenlion lo lIe
negalivil
oJ lIe Juluve vouId Ie
IeIpJuI
Ieve. UnliI
a
Iunan
Ieing
no
Iongev
exisls,
il
aIvas
Ias
a
Juluve,
a
polenliaI
vIicI is
nol-el.
Fvon an exislenliaI
slandpoinl,
lIen,
lIe
seIJ is nevev
JuII
acluaI,
Iul
aIvas polenliaII
aIead oJ ilseIJ.
Moveovev,
Juluve
polenliaI occupies
ouv
pvesenl
concevns,
so lIal
ve ave in lIe nidsl oJ a
nol-el
vIicI is IeJove us. TIe
nol-el
IeJove us aninales exislence lo lIe
poinl
vIeve il vouId Ie accuvale
lo
sa
lIal
polenliaIil
is
pviov
lo
acluaIil.
TIis is
sinpI
anolIev
va
oJ
saing
lIal Iunan exislence
dispIas
an
essenliaI
negalivil.
Evev
line
ve
engage
ov Jace a Juluve
pvojecl
ve
exenpIiJ
sucI
a
nolion. And lIe
unsellIing negalive expeviences
lIal
acconpan
lIese occasions
|e.g., uncevlainl,
conJusion,
anxiel)
ave
pevJeclI
naluvaI:
lIal is lo
sa,
sucI
expeviences
sIov lIe unsellIed
polenliaI
al lIe Ieavl oJ Iunan naluve.
Again,
as
Iong
as a Iunan
Ieing
exisls,
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
105
polenliaIil
is
essenliaII pviov
lo,
and is nevev
conpIeleI supevceded
I, acluaIil.5
In
sun, lIen,
I nainlain lIal lIe Iunan seIJ cannol Ie undev
slood
as sone Iind oJ suIslanlive
enlil,
ov as
sinpI
a sel oJ Junc
lions,
IioIogicaI
slales ov envivonnenlaI
veIalions,
ov as a
uniJied
gvound
oJ
cognilion.
Lived
expevience
sIovs lIe Iunan seIJ lo Ie
a
pvocess
vIicI
can nevev
Ie
adequaleI
descviIed in
puveI posilive
levns.
TIe
FoIilico-IegaI SeIJ
A
signiJicanl aspecl
oJ Iunan seIJIood invoIves lIe
poIilicaI
nolion oJ lIe
pevson,
lIal is lo
sa,
lIe
suIjecl
oJ
vigIls
and oIIi
galions.6
Heve I vouId IiIe lo
avgue
lIal lIe
negalivil
oJ lIe Iunan
seIJ does nol
dininisI,
Iul in Jacl
aninales,
inpovlanl
vas
in vIicI
ve see ouvseIves and lveal olIevs
as
pevsons
in lIe
poIilico-IegaI
sense.
I viII Iinil
n
discussion lo lIe
queslion
oJ Iunan
vigIls.
Il
Ias
JvequenlI
Ieen
poinled
oul lIal
a
jusliJicalion
Jov Iunan
vigIls
Ias Ieen
conpvonised
since lIe
ecIipse
oJ lvadilionaI veJevences
sucI
as
Ood,
lIe souI and univevsaI deJinilions oJ Iunan naluve.
Moveovev, consequences
sucI
as
niIiIisn and veIalivisn ave seen as
a vadicaI lIveal lo
an
deJense oJ Iunan
vigIls. AIlIougI
I do nol
cIain lIal
an exislenliaI
inlevpvelalion
oJ lIe seIJ is lIe
onI
eJJeclive
vesponse
lo sucI
a
pvoIIen,
I lIinI lIal ils
enpIasis
on
negalivil
Ias
nan advanlages
and
can
veadiI
velain lIe nolion oJ Iunan
vigIls despile
lIe Ioss oJ lvadilionaI
ov
an
olIev Jovn oJ
jusliJicalion.
In olIev
vovds,
one can
speaI
oJ
vigIls,
nol in levns oJ
lvacing
lIen lo vIal
a Iunan
Ieing
is,
Iul in levns oJ vIal
a
Iunan
Ieing
is nol.
Fvon
a
pvaclicaI
ov
poIilicaI slandpoinl, vigIls
ave
gvounded
in
Iavs
ov
conslilulionaI
pvovisions.
Bul IeIind lIis Iies lIe
pIiIo
sopIicaI pvoIIen
oJ lIe
jusliJicalion
oJ sucI Iavs
ov
assunplions.
M
conlenlion is lIal lIese
poIilicaI
vaIues need nol Ie
gvounded
in
sonelIing
Iunan
Ieings
ave ov
possess.
An inslvuclive
exanpIe
is lIe
vigIl
lo Jveedon vIicI in vavious Jovns Iies al lIe
Ieavl oJ denocvalic
pvincipIes.
Il is oJlen said lIal
poIilicaI
Jveedon
106
Lavvence
J.
HalaI
is
essenliaII
a
negalive concepl,
i.e.,
Jveedon
Jvon veslviclion,
nanipuIalion
ov
conlvoI. I laIe sucI Jveedon lo slen Jvon vIal
a
Iunan
Ieing
is
noi,
naneI
nol a
Jixed
oIjecl,
Junclion,
possiIiIil
ov
IeIieJ.
Fov
exanpIe, sIavev
is lIe
epilone
oJ
oIjecliJicalion,
oJ veduc
lion lo a
Junclion.
SIavev
is
vvong
nol Iecause oJ vIal
a
Iunan
Ieing
is
|e.g.,
a
souI ov a cvealuve oJ
Ood),
and nol
sinpI
Iecause
oJ lIe
IvulaIil
oJ
ensIavenenl,
Iul Iecause al Iollon
a
Iunan
seIJ is nol a
veduciIIe
oIjecl.
In olIev
vovds,
an
exislenliaI
anaIsis
need nol
vovv
aIoul lIe Ioss oJ lvadilionaI
veJevences,
and need
nol
pvopose
vIal Iunan naluve is in ovdev lo concIude lIal
a
Iunan
Ieing
sIouId nol Ie ensIaved. In lIe sane
nannev,
a
vacisl
ov
sexisl
aIvidgenenl
oJ
vigIls
can Ie cvilicized Iecause oJ ils
veduclion oJ lIe
pevson
lo
enpivicaI, IioIogicaI
ov
JunclionaI
slales,
vIicI
conpIeleI Ipasses
lIe
open negalivil
oJ Iunan exislence.
In
sun,
vigIls
can
veJev lo lIe
vas
in vIicI
a
sociel
acInovI
edges
lIe Iinils oJ Iov a Iunan
pevson
can
Ie deJined.
B va
oJ
conlvasl,
lIeve ave a nunIev oJ
vas
in vIicI
puveI
posilive
cvilevia can Ie
inpIicaled
in
poIilicaI lvann. Man
Jovns oJ
lvann
ave
nolivaled
I
an
excessive desive Jov ovdev
and
conJovnil,
ov slen Jvon
a
decisive
picluve
oJ vIal
a
Iunan
is,
ov
sIouId Ie. In
Jacl,
Iislov dispIas
aII loo nunevous occasions
in vIicI
lvann
Ias Ieen
jusliJied I good
inlenlions. Even in
lIe
nane
oJ noIIe
veIigious,
novaI
ov
sociaI
doclvines,
levviIIe
cvueIlies Iave Ieen
pevpelvaled
in lIe Jace oJ vesislance ov
diJJevences.
M poinl
is lIal lIe
negalive
exislenliaI nodeI oJ Iunan naluve
pevnils
eJJeclive
opposilion
lo
an
and aII Jovns oJ
lvann, I
undevnining
lIe connilnenls vIicI ave
said lo
jusliJ
lIen.
TIe MovaI
SeIJ
AnolIev
inpovlanl aspecl
oJ lIe Iunan seIJ invoIves lIe
va
in
vIicI ve cone lo
undevsland,
appvopviale
and
engage
novaI vaIues.
As in lIe
poIilicaI spIeve, cIaIIenges
lo lvadilionaI doclvines Iave
Ieen seen as a
lIveal lo lIe
jusliJicalion
oJ novaI vaIues. To
pava
pIvase BosloevsI
IJ lIeve is no
univevsaI deJinilion oJ Iunan
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
107
naluve,
lIen
evevlIing
is
pevnissaIIe |i.e.,
vIal couId counl as
inIunan?).
WilIoul
cIaining
lo covev aII lIe
inpovlanl
aveas oJ
novaI
pIiIosopI,
I vouId
sinpI
IiIe lo
suggesl
sone
vas
in
vIicI
an
exislenliaI
inlevpvelalion
oJ lIe seIJ
can suslain
an
eJJeclive
posilion
in nallevs oJ
novaIil.
Fivsl oJ
aII,
Ieing
novaI
is,
I
lIinI,
essenliaII
veIaled lo lIe
negalivil
oJ Iunan exislence. I laIe lIe
posilion
lIal
signiJicanl
povlions
oJ lIe novaI IiJe slen Jvon
snpalI.
MovaI
pvincipIes
ov
inpevalives
Iecone useIess
ov al Iesl an aIslvacl
pose
vilIoul lIe
concvele
expevience
oJ
snpalI
Jov olIevs. And
snpalI
avises
Jvon
a sense Jov lIe Iinils oJ IiJe and lIe Iinds oJ
suJJeving
lIal
cone Jvon
dveIIing
in sucI Iinils.
SnpalIelic peopIe
ave
occupied
I
lIe
negalivil
oJ Iunan
exislence:
lIe
ave nol
pvone
lo aIuse
olIevs,
nov ave
lIe IiIeI
lo
ignove
lIe
pain
oJ olIevs.7
SecondI, Ieing
innovaI
nigIl
Ie said lo slen nol
onI
Jvon
a
IacI oJ
snpalI,
Iul al lines Jvon an
inaIiIil
lo vilIsland lIe
negalivil
oJ Iunan IiJe. TIose vIo
ave
pvone
lo disovn
a novaI
vaIue oJlen do so Iecause oJ Iosses lIal
nigIl
ensue. TIose vIo
aIuse olIevs oJlen do so
deJensiveI,
lIal is lo
sa,
oul oJ Jeav ov
pvoleclion
oJ lIeiv
posilion.
Halved and vioIence can
oJlen avise
Jvon Jixalion
on
oneseIJ
|pvoleclion),
and Jvon a
veduclive
Jixing
oJ olIevs inlo
opposilionaI calegovies.
TIe
poinl
is lIal
nan
alli
ludes IeIind innovaI acls veJIecl
inpuIses
lo
pvesevve sonelIing
and
aIso Jixed
judgenenls
aIoul olIevs.
I an
suggesling
lIal
an exislenliaI
vievpoinl
vIicI
appvopviales
lIe
negalivil
oJ Iunan exislence
pvovides
a
pvaclicaI pa-oJJ
in
lIe veaIn oJ
novaIil.
TIe novaI
IiJe |nol
jusl
a
lIeov
ov
pvincipIe)
vequives conpassion, couvage,
sacviJice,
visI and
veIeasing
olIevs
Jvon ouv Iiases. TIe vavious Jaclovs oulIined Ieve
enIod
lvo
Iasic alliludes lIal JoIIov Jvon
an
exislenliaI
inlevpvelalion
oJ lIe
Iunan seIJ
1)
a
snpalIelic
sense Jov lIe
negalivil
oJ
IiJe,
and
2)
lIe
slvenglI
lo vilIsland lIal
negalivil.
In
addilion,
I lIinI lIal NielzscIe's
enpIasis
on
ovevconing
is
exlveneI
veIevanl in
novaIil.
TIe novaI IiJe is nol a
Jixed
pvopevl
Iul
a
conlinuaI
pvocess,
acIievenenls in lIe nidsl oJ counlev-Jovces
|IolI
exlevnaI and
inlevnaI).
Il is nol
onI
lIal
ve undevsland novaI
108
Lavvence J.
HalaI
vaIues in veIalion lo
opposile
condilions. TIe
negalive
lension
Ielveen lIen
pevsisls
as
lIe
vev
JieId oJ novaI exislence. Ouv
connilnenls
ave
conlinuing negalions
oJ olIev naluvaI
inpuIses,
vIicI aIso conlinue lo exevl a
negalive puII.
TIis is nol a
lIveal lo
novaIil
Iul valIev
a
descviplion
oJ lIe
va
in vIicI
ve
exisl
novaII.
A
pevspeclive
sucI as
lIis Ias cevlain
advanlages
ovev olIev
posilive
doclvines. Fivsl oJ
aII,
il is nove
iIIuninaling
Iecause
il allends lo lIe
pvocess
oJ
novaIil
and nol
jusl
ils
pvoducls.
SecondI,
il avoids lIe
lvap
oJ
inagining sonelIing
IiIe novaI
pevJeclion,
an
ideaI vIicI
veaII
anounls lo a
Jovn oJ cIosuve
lIal is IolI inIunan and
counlevpvoduclive.
SucI
an
ideaI
genevales
an
unveaIislic
picluve
oJ lIe novaI IiJe and can
pvonole
lIe Iinds
oJ
pscIoIogicaI
alliludes
|e.g.,
disiIIusionnenl,
seIJ-Ialved)
lIal
eilIev
inpede
novaI
deveIopnenl
ov cveale addilionaI deslvuclive
Jovces oJ lIeiv
ovn.
TIe FevsonaI
SeIJ
An exislenliaI
anaIsis
vIicI
enpIasizes negalivil
and
pvocess,
and vIicI
avgues againsl
an
veiJicalion oJ lIe Iunan
seIJ,
aIso
appIies
lo lIe issue oJ
individuaIil
and
pevsonaIil.
WIal is il lIal
naIes
up
a
pevson?
Hov do ve accounl Jov a
pevson's
IiJe ov
cIavaclev? Hov do ve
gel
lo Inov soneone?
Nol,
I vouId
suggesl,
I appIing
sone
concepluaI
scIene
ov
veducing
pevsons
lo sone
sel oJ
condilions,
Iul
I veIeasing
individuaIs
Jvon allenpls
lo
conpIeleI gvasp
lIen lo lIeiv innev
negalivil
and
openness.
TIe
essence oJ
individuaIil?uniqueness?sIouId
nol Ie laIen lo
nean sone Iind oJ
speciaI descviplion,
Iul valIev lIal vIicI
uIlinaleI
eIudes
descviplion
in
posilive
levns
|cJ. KievIegaavd
on
lIis
poinl).
TIeve
ave
good
veasons
vI sonelIing
IiIe lolaI discIosuve vouId
dininisI lIe Jascinalion and allvaclion oJ
a
pevson |cJ.
FIalo We
Iove vIal
ve do nol
possess),
ov is
inslincliveI
vesisled
I peopIe.
I do nol vanl lo Inov
evevlIing
aIoul
a
pevson,
nov do I vanl
olIevs lo Inov
evevlIing
aIoul
ne. I lIinI lIal sucI
an
allilude
is
jusliJied
nol Iecause oJ lIe vaIue oJ
conceaIing
secvels,
Iul Iecause
NielzscIe,
NiIiIisn and
Meaning
109
JuII discIosuve is inconsislenl vilI Iunan naluve.
FolenliaIil,
cIange, openness
and Iinils
ave
essenliaI lo ouv
exislence and naIe
an
Iind oJ JuII accounl
inpossiIIe. WI
is il lIal ovevdiscIosuve
oJlen avouses a sense oJ enIavvassnenl
|IolI
in soneone
Ieing
discIosed,
and in us vIen
exposed
lo soneone
engaging
in excessive
conJession)?
Nol
sinpI
Iecause oJ lIe
accounl,
Iul Iecause oJ lIe
veduclion oJ lIe
pevson
lo lIe accounl.
TIeve
ave
nan vas
in vIicI
an
inslincl
againsl
veduclion is
evidenl in ouv Iives. We oJlen vesisl
Ieing JuII
idenliJied vilI ouv
voIes ov
Junclions.
FuvlIevnove,
vIen ve ave
Ionoved Jov ouv
successes ov
disIonoved Jov
ouv
JaiIuves il is
vev
connon lo Iave
slvong
innev douIls aIoul
JuII desevving
sucI
ascviplions
Jvon
olIevs. I do nol lIinI lIal lIis veaclion is
sinpI
a
Iind oJ
ps
cIoIogicaI
naneuvev lo dininisI
an
acIievenenl
ov
sIovlconing.
Il is
an
appvopviale expvession
oJ lIe non-veduciIIe
pvocess
oJ
polenliaIil
al lIe Ieavl oJ Iunan exislence. Fvon an
inlevnaI
slandpoinl,
I an
aIvas
IolI nove and Iess lIan
an
given
vesuIls.
TIe
posilive
side oJ lIe
negalive
lIesis in an
exislenliaI
anaIsis
can Ie iIIuslvaled
I
vIal
Heideggev
caIIed
Ielling-Ie.
IJ lIe Iunan
seIJ is
gvounded
in
nolIing,
lIen
uIlinaleI
a
pevson
cannol Ie
expIained.
An
appvopviale
veaclion vouId invoIve
Ielling pevsons
Ie in lIe
va
lIe
ave
unJoIding individuaII. Lelling-Ie
enlaiIs
venouncing
lIe
uvge
lo
expIain pevsons I veducing
lIen lo a sel
oJ Jacls ov
Jixed
descviplions.
In lIe
end,
lIe inleIIecl Ias
an
oIIi
galion
lo
pevsons
anaIogous
lo lIal oJ
govevnnenl, naneI pev
nilling
Jveedon Jvon lIe veslvainls oJ
expIanalov
conslvucls.
So,
vIal is il lIal accounls Jov lIe Iunan
pevson? UIlinaleI,
nolIing!
OJ
couvse,
sucI
a
concIusion undevnines lIe vavious con
lenpovav allenpls
lo
expIain
Iunan naluve
e.g.,
socio-IioIog,
IeIaviovisn, naleviaIisn, Mavxisn,
pscIoanaIsis, genelic
and
envivonnenlaI lIeovies. Il is nol lIal lIese
vievpoinls
ave
enliveI
useIess. TIe
pvoIIen
is lIe
uvge
lo veduce Iunan naluve lo a
cevlain
JvanevovI. AII sucI veduclions can even
Ie caIIed
niIiIislic,
Iecause
lIe
lend lo niIiIale
ov
canceI oul lIe Iunan
pevson: lIe
con
pIeleI
niss individuaI Iived
expevience,
vIicI dveIIs in
negalivil
110
Lavvence J.
HalaI
and exIiIils lIe ivveduciIIe eIenenls oJ
polenliaIil, cvealivil,
ovevconing
and
openness.
In veIalion lo
expIanalov
conslvucls,
lIese
non-oIjeclive negalive
eIenenls anounl lo a
pvesevvalion
oJ
ouv
individuaIil
and Jveedon.
In
concIusion,
I
Iope
lIal lIe
pveceding
discussion Ias iIIuninaled
n
lIesis oJ
a
nodiJied
niIiIisn,
vIicI looI ils cues Jvon NielzscIe's
lIougIl.
Il luvns oul lIal lIe lIesis
veaII
anounls lo a
non-Jounda
lionaIisl
lIeov
oJ
neaning.
TIal is lo
sa,
lIeve is
no
Jixed vaIue,
neaning
ov
lvulI in lIe vovId. Bul lIe Ioss enlaiIed Ieve in Jacl
opens up
lIe essenliaI
veIalionsIip
Ielveen
negalivil
and
neaning.
As lIe
anaIsis
oJ Iunan seIJIood vas neanl lo
sIov,
lIe aIsence
oJ
a
Joundalion
is,
in lIe
end,
nol a
Ioss
ov a
cvisis,
Iul valIev
a
IiIevaling openness
vIicI in Jacl
genevales
lIe vaIues and
neanings
lIal
JuII
veJIecl,
and
pvolecl,
ouv
Iunanil.
WovIs Ciled
NielzscIe,
FviedvicI. TIe
Oa
Science. Tvans. WaIlev KauJnan. Nev YovI
Modevn
LiIvav,
1968.
_Beond
Oood and EviI. Ed. and lvans. WaIlev KauJnan. Basic
Wvilings
oJ
NielzscIe. Nev YovI Modevn
LiIvav,
1968.
_BivlI
oJ Tvaged.
Ed. and lvans. WaIlev KauJnan. Basic
Wvilings oJ
NielzscIe. Nev YovI Modevn
LiIvav,
1968.
_On lIe
OeneaIog oJ
MovaIs. Ed. and lvans. WaIlev KauJnan. Basic
Wvilings oJ
NielzscIe. Nev YovI Modevn
LiIvav,
1968.
_
TviIigIl oJ
lIe IdoIs. Ed. and lvans. WaIlev KauJnan. TIe FovlaIIe
NielzscIe. Nev YovI
ViIing,
1968.
_WiII lo Fovev. Tvans. WaIlev KauJnan and
B.J.
HoIIingdaIe.
Nev YovI
Vinlage,
1968.
OIson,
BoIevl O. NiIiIisn. TIe
EnccIopedia oJ FIiIosopI.
Ed. FauI
Edvavds. 8 voIs. Nev YovI
MacniIIan,
1967. 5 514-517.
ScIacIl,
BicIavd. NielzscIe and NiIiIisn. NielzscIe A CoIIeclion
oJ
CvilicaI
Essas.
Ed. BoIevl SoIonon. Oavden
Cil,
Nev YovI
AncIov,
1973.
NielzscIe. NiIiIisn and
Meaning
111
Noles
Mosl ave
Jound in lIe
unpuIIisIed
noles lIal Iave Ieen coIIecled undev lIe
lilIe TIe WiII lo
Fovev,
lvans. WaIlev KauJnann and
B.J.
HoIIingdaIe |Nev
YovI
Vinlage, 1968).
2See, e.g., TviIigIl oJ
lIe
IdoIs,

'Beason' in
FIiIosopI,
6,
in TIe FovlaIIe
NielzscIe,
lvans. WaIlev KauJnann
|Nev
YovI
ViIing
Fvess,
1968)
484,
and
On lIe
OeneaIog oJ MovaIs, III,
17 and 25.
3See, e.g.,
TIe
Oa
Science 346.
4TIe
enpIasis
on
exislenliaI
negalivil
is,
I
lIinI,
a nosl eJJeclive
va
oJ
sIoving vI
a
conpulev
is nol a
pevson,
ov
vI
Ivain
pIsioIog
is nol
suJJicienl Jov
descviIing
Iunan
lIougIl
and aclion.
5WIen AvislolIe accounled Jov
polenliaIil,
Ie nevevlIeIess nainlained lIal
lIe acluaI Jovn lovavd vIicI a
polenliaI deveIops
is Jixed and
nelapIsicaII
pIaced
in lIe nind oJ Ood.
SuIsequenlI
Ie vas aIIe lo decIave lIe
pvincipIe
lIal
can
Ie said lo navI veslevn
nelapIsics
evev
since,
naneI lIal4'acluaIil
is
pviov
lo
polenliaIil.
OlIevvise,
Ie
said,
ve vouId Ie IeJl vilI lIe
convevse,
vIicI vouId
inpI
lIe
unacceplaIIe
nolion lIal
lIings
avise oul on
non-Ieing
|MelapIsics
7II, 1072a,
9-20).
6TIe IislovicaI
ovigin
oJ lIis conneclion
can
Ie lvaced lo Bonan
lines,
vIeve lIe vovd
pevsona,
lIe aclov s nasI
|sounding-lIvougI),
exlended lo
individuaI cilizens
suIjecl
lo lIe vuIe oJ
Iav,
an exlension
anaIogous
lo lIe
alnospIeve
in cIassicaI dvana vIeve cIavaclevs veve
suIjecl
lo lIe vuIe oJ lIe
gods.
7
NielzscIe,,
lIe
supposed
innov?Iisl,
Iisled
snpalI
as one oJ Iis Jouv
vivlues
|Beond
Oood and EviI
284),
lIe olIevs
Ieing couvage, insigIl
and
soIilude.