Beyond Good and Evil

An 1886 book by Friedrich Nietzsche that criticizes inherited moral values and examines the psychological assumptions behind philosophy. It develops ideas including perspectivism, the will to power, and the revaluation of morality.

Genealogy of Morals: An 1887 book by Friedrich Nietzsche tracing the historical development and psychological roots of moral values. Its later essays extend the book’s critique of morality through a more explicit historical genealogy.
Aphorism: A brief, pointed statement that expresses an idea or observation, often in a literary or philosophical work. Nietzsche’s numbered sections use compressed arguments that invite connections across the book.
Friedrich Nietzsche: A German philosopher and writer whose works criticize inherited morality, religion, and assumptions about knowledge. His philosophical development and polemical style shape the book’s arguments and form.
Utilitarianism: An ethical theory that evaluates actions by their consequences for overall well-being or happiness. Nietzsche objects to reducing human value and morality to the pursuit of comfort or utility.
Perspectivism: The view that knowledge and interpretation are shaped by perspectives rather than a wholly neutral standpoint. Nietzsche uses perspectival thinking to challenge philosophy’s claims to disinterested truth.
Psychological egoism: The descriptive theory that people ultimately act from self-interest, even when their motives appear altruistic. Nietzsche repeatedly interprets supposedly selfless motives as expressions of less acknowledged drives.
David Strauss: A German theologian and writer known for his historical study of the life of Jesus. Nietzsche’s polemics engage the nineteenth-century liberal and secular culture represented by Strauss.
Kantian ethics: An ethical approach grounded in rational duties and principles that apply universally. Its universal moral law exemplifies the kind of supposedly unconditional ethics Nietzsche interrogates.
Will to Power: Nietzsche’s idea that a drive toward expansion, overcoming, and the exercise of strength underlies life and interpretation. The book presents this drive as a possible alternative to explanations centered on self-preservation.
Skepticism: A philosophical approach that questions whether knowledge or justified belief is possible. Nietzsche turns skeptical scrutiny on the assumptions philosophers often leave unquestioned.

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