On The Genealogy of Morals is made up of three essays, all of which
question and critique the value of our moral judgments based on a genealogical
method whereby Nietzsche examines the origins and meanings of our different
moral concepts.
The first essay, "'Good and Evil,' 'Good and Bad'" contrasts what Nietzsche
calls "master morality" and "slave morality." Master morality was developed by
the strong, healthy, and free, who saw their own happiness as good and named it
thus. By contrast, they saw those who were weak, unhealthy, and enslaved as
"bad," since their weakness was undesirable. By contrast, the slaves, feeling
oppressed by these wealthy and happy masters, called the masters "evil," and
called themselves "good" by contrast.
The second essay, "'Guilt,' 'Bad Conscience,' and the like" deals with
(surprise, surprise) guilt, bad conscience, and the like. Nietzsche traces the
origins of concepts such as guilt and punishment, showing that originally they
were not based on any sense of moral transgression. Rather, guilt simply meant
that a debt was owed and punishment was simply a form of securing repayment.
Only with the rise of slave morality did these moral concepts gain their present
meanings. Nietzsche identifies bad conscience as our tendency to see ourselves
as sinners and locates its origins in the need that came with the development of
society to inhibit our animal instincts for aggression and cruelty and to turn
them inward upon ourselves.
The third essay, "What is the meaning of ascetic ideals?" confronts asceticism,
the powerful and paradoxical force that dominates contemporary life. Nietzsche
sees it as the expression of a weak, sick will. Unable to cope with its
struggle against itself, the sick will sees its animal instincts, its earthly
nature, as vile, sinful, and horrible. Unable to free itself from these
instincts, it attempts to subdue and tame itself as much as possible. Nietzsche
concludes that "man would rather will nothingness than not will."
