Nietzsche's Alternative

Paper Summary:

Fredrick Appel is one of the few that carefully agrees with Nietzsche's alternative to democracy in his work, "Nietzsche Contra Democracy". This paper examines Nietzsche's proposal for a caste system. For Nietzsche, democracy creates an illusion were everyone thinks they are right and seldom seeks advice from their betters. In a well-ordered society, everyone has their place, and the lower-ordered human beings are honored to seek and follow the advice of their betters. In such a society, everyone is working together to reach a better ultimate goal, whatever that goal may be.

From the Paper:

"In a caste system, "the natural slave would flourish - in his own limited manner... in a properly ordered society the natural slave finds an intrinsic satisfaction in the fulfillment of his or her limited capacities" (Appel, 129). It is refreshing to think that even a man such as a slave could find a harmonious satisfaction with life, instead of forgetting his own significant virtues and attempting to strive for those he does not attain or need. This type of satisfaction that is born out of a caste system leads to everyone treating one another with respect. Jealousy and envy towards the Jones's is diminished, and a life trying to keep up with the Jones's is recognized as unsatisfying and, actually, never considered. In Nietzsche's words, "For the mediocre, it is happiness to be mediocre" (Appel, 129)."

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