Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in the Zarathustra Prologue, Nietzsche speaks about a crisis that is being shared by the existing humanity--the crisis of being contented without positive goals and a meaningful direction. The paper looks at the discussion that there is crisis because of the following essential points: first, the non-existence of God in this world; second, the centering on life after death; third, the suffering of self-satisfaction; fourth, the longing for contentment and comfort; fifth, the lack of strong, positive goals and courage; sixth and last, having a smaller world with weaker men.

Outline:
The Crisis of Existing Humanity
The Principal Parts of the Last Man's Soul
The Way to Redemption
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In the Prologue section of "Thus Spake Zarathustra", Nietzsche speaks about a crisis that lingers in all of humanity today. Zarathustra speaks that saints are too proud and love only God and not men, as stated in the lines: "Now I love God: men, I do not love. Man is a thing too imperfect for me. Love to man would be fatal to me" (Nietzsche 21). He says that acts of charity should go after acts of beseech: "If, however, thou wilt give unto them, give them no more than an alms, and let them also beg for it" (Nietzsche 21). This points out that acts of charity are done for the sake of pride and self-worthiness. When Zarathustra speaks that "God is dead" (Nietzsche 22), he meant that God does not exist in this world anymore, even on people who, through their actions, seem to make God more alive. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Nietzsche, Friedrich. Thus Spake Zarathustra. Translated by Thomas Common. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University, 1999.
• Nietzsche, Friedrich, and Walter Kaufmann. The Portable Nietzsche. New York, NY: Penguin Group, Inc., 1977.

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