Table of contentsNietzsche's critique: morality as a reaction to impotenceFreud's critique: morality as a civilizational response to aggressionConclusionFriedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud present profound critiques of human morality that challenge dominant notions of virtue and ethics. Their perspectives depart from the conventional belief that morality is an innate aspect of human nature. Instead, they argue that morality arises in response to the complexities of human existence. Although Nietzsche and Freud assert that morality is a reactive creation, their assessments of its value differ considerably. Nietzsche argues that reactive morality is detrimental to humanity, stifling its potential for growth and flourishing. Conversely, Freud posits that morality is an essential element of civilization, facilitating harmonious coexistence between individuals. The disparity between their views arises from the distinct motivations driving their critiques: Nietzsche's exploration focuses on the impact of morality on the individual, while Freud's analysis focuses on the role of morality in society as a whole. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayNietzsche's Criticism: Morality as a Reaction to ImpotenceFriedrich Nietzsche, in his seminal work “On the Genealogy of Morality” , embarks on a quest to decipher the “value of [human] values.” He uses vivid metaphors to elucidate his point of view, a particularly significant metaphor being that of the helpless lamb confronting a formidable bird of prey. This metaphor provides a crucial entry point to understanding Nietzsche's account of morality. In Nietzsche's metaphor, the helpless lamb, unable to resist the predatory bird, labels the bird evil for its actions and, in contrast, considers itself virtuous for its perceived moral behavior. superiority. This reaction arises from the lamb's resentment, a deep resentment born of its helplessness. Nietzsche argues that this reaction is motivated by the lamb's will to power, a will inherent in each individual seeking to create favorable conditions for the expression of their power. Therefore, the lamb invents a new standard of strength – moral strength, virtue and goodness – to compensate for its inherent weakness. According to Nietzsche, morality appears as a response to powerlessness. Developing his metaphor, Nietzsche extends the concept to human behavior. It posits that powerless humans, much like the lamb, respond to their lack of power by redefining weakness as morally virtuous. Actions arising from weakness, such as timidity, submission or cowardice, are transformed into moral virtues. Conversely, behaviors associated with powerful individuals, such as domination or accumulation of wealth, are considered evil. This transformation translates the power dynamic between the powerful and the powerless into a moral framework, shaping human morality. One of the central elements of Nietzsche's critique revolves around the negative implications of the reactive morality of the "slave" on the individual. He identifies several problematic aspects, including self-deception. Morality classifies powerless individuals as morally superior to the powerful, despite Nietzsche's assertion that these powerless beings themselves aspire to achieve power. Morality requires self-deception, forcing individuals to believe that weakness and morality are preferable to strength and perceived evil. In..