The evil man, therefore, is only evil through error; if one free him from error one will necessarily make him—good."—This mode of reasoning savours of the POPULACE, who perceive only the unpleasant consequences of evil-doing, and practically judge that "it is STUPID to do wrong"; while they accept "good" as identical with "useful and pleasant," without further thought. As regards every system of utilitarianism, one may at once assume that it has the same origin, and follow the scent: one will seldom err.—Plato did all he could to interpret something refined and noble into the tenets of his teacher, and above all to interpret himself into them—he, the most daring of all interpreters, who lifted the entire Socrates out of the street, as a popular theme and song, to exhibit him in endless and impossible modifications—namely, in all his own disguises and multiplicities.
Beyond Good and Evil
Table of Contents
- PREFACE 9
- CHAPTER I. PREJUDICES OF PHILOSOPHERS 16
- CHAPTER II. THE FREE SPIRIT 70
- CHAPTER III. THE RELIGIOUS MOOD 118
- CHAPTER IV. APOPHTHEGMS AND INTERLUDES 159
- CHAPTER V. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MORALS 185
- CHAPTER VI. WE SCHOLARS 235
- CHAPTER VII. OUR VIRTUES 280
- CHAPTER VIII. PEOPLES AND COUNTRIES 338
- CHAPTER IX. WHAT IS NOBLE? 393
- FROM THE HEIGHTS 467
- By F W Nietzsche 468
- Translated by L. A. Magnus 469