PhilosophyGround >> Best Critical Response to Nietzsche?

None So Blind - He has some interesting research that seems to suggest that in direct competition across species, those species which are cooperative (and prior to that, have enough empathy to note who needs help, which then leads to cooperation) are more successful than those that are competitive within species, or even those that are a mix of competition and cooperation, but without any empathy guiding those who require altruistic intervention (i.e., those that cooperate purely out of self-interest).

Joe Ray - 

None So Blind - He has some interesting research that seems to suggest that in direct competition across species, those species which are cooperative (and prior to that, have enough empathy to note who needs help, which then leads to cooperation) are more successful than those that are competitive within species, or even those that are a mix of competition and cooperation, but without any empathy guiding those who require altruistic intervention (i.e., those that cooperate purely out of self-interest).

 

That is to be expected, altruism is the herd value par excellence. And I don't neccessarily mean that as a criticism.

Nietzsche takes target at these herd values becoming our highest dominant values because he believes they are hostile to the flourishing of great creative geniuses.

sanguine cynic - "True, but Nietzsche also attacked happiness as an ideal and a goal. It leads one to seek comfort and security and to become averse to suffering. In short, valuing your own happiness above all else leads you to become soft and decadent. "

I disagree. There is tons of psychological evidence that the happier you are the stronger you are and the better able you are to face life's problems.

Positive and negative emotions exist in upwards and downwards spirals.

The more positive emotions you feel, the more this habit becomes ingrained in your brain and the more likely you are to interpret future events as positive. Which leads you to have more positive events, which causes you to further develop the habit of viewing things positively which even furhter produces more positive events.

Negativity works in the same way..but what we would call a downward spiral.

In fact, the best way to become stronger is to become happier.

I recommend the book "Positivity" by UNC Psychologist Barbara Frederickson, it's probably the best book on how to get happier ever written.


Numerous psychologists who have spent time with the Dalai Lama have agreed that he is unlike anyone else they have ever met in his amazing ability to quickly recover from hearing bad news or from a negative emotion.