Twilight Of The Idols Analysis

Friedrich Nietzsche: Twilight of the Idols: Morality as Anti-Nature

In Nietzsche’s “Twilight of the Idols: Morality as Anti-Nature”, Nietzsche elucidates on the concept of morality. He posits the creation of morality as an attempt to quell our passions and desires. This happens in several ways but one of the most obvious examples of a conduit that imposes morality is the church. To Nietzsche, the church unjustly imposes morality on humans, and limits rational people from forming their own moral principles. This is why he claims that the “Church is hostile to life”. Nietzsche also claims that although some of our passions are stupid, to attempt to destroy them is not only unfruitful, but also “an acute form of stupidity” (p.1234). Desires

Is there really such a thing as a good or bad act? If one is religious, they might refer to the bible for these answers, and assume that because it’s in their bible, it must be so. This is the crutch of religion, it quells any kind of inquisitiveness from its believers, and often reprimands any attempt at questioning it. However, if we remove religion, how do we determine the morality of an action? Do we rely on what brings pleasure? Utility? Desire? There’s no real way to be certain. Additionally, another problem with prescribed morality is that it tends to dehumanize us. Let me explain: by labeling a certain action as immoral, it creates an idea of a ‘ right way to be’. In this ‘right way to be’, one can only be outside or inside of it. Meaning that if one has a desire to constantly have sex, this person is labeled as immoral due to Christian principles regarding sex when it’s public knowledge that humans have a natural desire to do so. Thus, if we’re allowed to create our own morals, we can eradicate the mental turmoil that having to prescribe to a predetermined moral construct can bring. Therefore, institutionalized morality is detrimental to our mental wellbeing and natural