Nietzsche V. Kierkegaard

Arguing on the side of Nietzsche
1. How are the levels of Kierkegaard's Aesthetic stage similar or different from Nietzsche’s primal will, child’s will and the will to power?

Kierkegaard's Aesthetic stage involves one's pleasures and immaturity arising as a result of taking notice of his/her worldly surroundings.

Nietzsche's primal will is the demarcation of life itself, or the affirmation of universal reality. While child's will refers to developing an understanding of life. One's will to power is the "force" that drives an individual to achieve ambition or achievement, or the highest possible position in life (Wiki).

Both stages are similar in the sense that one is trying to reach the "spiritual stage". Kierkegaard's aesthetic stage and Nietzsche's will involve an individual taking into account their surroundings and making ethical decisions based on their ability and reliance on senses (ex: ambition) to execute those decisions.

2. What is the value of the horizon of the ethical stage? Are these values man-made?

The value horizon of the ethical is man-made. For example, in a deserted island it would be morally wrong and viewed down upon by our society to practice cannibalism. Yet, the ethical decision of those who practice cannibalism would be to practice it anyways and do as they please since they do not have to follow the value horizon.

3. Faith is merely another value horizon therefore it can be debunked and discarded as needed.

Dangerous topic...ohhhh.....

Nietzsche would argue that faith is the belief in a higher power or some "mystical guidance" that would help one solve life problems. Basically, Nietzsche warns that organized religion leads to faith, so he warns one to stay away from it because it could lead to false hopes in the eyes of the individual.

4. God is a human construct.

Nietzsche would agree with the above statement. He would carefully argue that faith, a value horizon, would lead to one constructing a higher being that would ultimately resolve/help life problems. So basically, humans have this idea of a higher being or power helping them through life issues through faith (relates to #4)

Hard to argue because of paradox idea Kierkegaard brought up about no conception of God.

DANGEROUS TOPIC...OHH....

5. Antigone: interesting, well for one, everyone dies at some point in their lives. But, this cannot be change by a person's will to power...brings us back to the whole idea of faith

then there is the fact that Antigone went against the value horizon found in the aesthetic stage and decided to bury her brother, even if it was against the law

Basically, Nietzsche would argue that will to power plays a large role in Antigone. But it is not exercised correctly by the characters and the characters in Antigone use their will to power for death but not to ultimately liberate themselves from Oedipus who imposes himself as a threat to all the characters in the book.

6. Joker and Bane:

Joker exercises his will to power freely, and goes against the ethics of Gotham City and does as he pleases to make himself happy.

Don't remember Bane argument...