On the Genealogy of Morals essay

Paper #1

Mosaic II

Write an approximately 4 page (1000 words or so) paper that addresses one of the following topics.

1. Look at our society (or an aspect within it, for example, education, business, politics, etc.) and analyze it through Nietzsche’s ideas. Dig deeply and analyze this thoroughly. Through Nietzschean eyes, what does our society (or the educational system, etc. therein) look like?

2. Do you think current American values more closely reflect an egalitarian (Jeffersonian, slave) morality or a more “aristocratic” (“master”) morality? As with the above question, you can look at this more generally or more narrowly (looking at the values that are reflected in one aspect of our culture). With this question, in addition to Nietzsche, you are invited to use the ideas found in the Declaration of Independence.

3. Discuss the difference between “master” morality and “slave” morality as it is presented in “‘Good and Evil,’ ‘Good and Bad.’”

4. Why does Nietzsche have a negative view of democracy?

5. Construct a counter-argument to Nietzsche’s ideas. (Do you have a problem with his ideas? Is he missing something?) If you choose this, you MUST first show me you have a clear understanding of what Nietzsche is saying before you go on to critique it. (Your grade will be based primarily on the depth of understanding you display of Nietzsche’s ideas.)

6. You may choose another topic, if you wish. The topic must dig into the ideas presented in Nietzsche’s “‘Good and Evil,’ ‘Good and Bad’” and you must get my permission first.

Regardless of what topic you choose, you must thoroughly support your arguments using the text. Your support must be cited accurately. Remember, these are not to be research papers; I’m only asking for you to honestly confront Nietzsche’s ideas and to dig into them. The use of outside sources is not allowed.