Nietzsche's Theory of 'Will to Power'

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Nietzsche's theory of the human will to power as the driving force behind human behavior and motivation. According ot the paper, Nietzsche's idea explains human motivation and why people often feel that they must fight against what they want to do because it is not considered right or good. The paper further discusses how Nietzsche suggests that by deciding to use your own creativity, desire and judgment, as well as rejecting common morals that dictate your behavior, you can excel and become a 'cut above the rest'.

From the Paper:

"Despite the fact that Nietzsche's will to power inspired one of the most notorious men in history, the will to power is no worse than a Kant's theory of everyone obeying rules. Most people abide by general morals. They do not lie or cheat or kill others, or if they do they feel guilty for it. Most people take these things for granted since they are not thought to be in question. Not everyone lives by these rules, though, since some people act however they like whether or not they are aware of morality. These people may be considered to be acting out Nietzsche's human will to power. Kant's argument, again, is that society would fall apart if all people listened to their own motivations and took whatever and did whatever they wanted. Yet, without people who act of Nietzsche's will to power, all people would be drones, or incapable of standing up for themselves. Some examples of this possibility are in the books Anthem by Ayn Rand or 1984 by George Orwell."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fitz, Hope K. "Nietzsche's Philosophy of the Will to Power as a Kind of Elan Vital and Creative Expression." Dialogue & Universalism 15.5-6 (2005): 43-53.
• Frost, S. E. Jr. Basic Teachings of the Great Philosophers. New York: Anchor Books, 1962.
• Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Will to Power. New York: Random House, 1967.
• Priority Records. "Ice-T Reportedly Joins Priority After Ending His Pact with Warner Bros." Jet 83.17 (1993): 62.
• Robinson, Dave, and Groves, Judy. Introducing: Philosophy. New York: Totem Books, 1998.

More papers on Nietzsche's Theory of 'Will to Power':

• Essay # 17845 : "Friedrick Wilhelm Nietzsche"
• Analytical Essay # 130067 : "Mulvey's Theory of the Gaze and Retro-Noir"
• Research Paper # 6371 : "Bratman's Theory of Identification with Desires"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: