Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 10:36:54 -0700
From: Steve Callihan <callihan-AT-callihan.seanet.com>
Subject: Re: The Four Cardinal Virtues


At 12:33 PM 7/15/98 EST, Henry Sholar wrote:
>
>>Steve C
>>An additional question, however, would be whether "virtue" and "value" here
>>might be taken as equivalents. For Nietzsche, I doubt that the equivalency
>>holds. Virtue, in other words, is a quality (an excellence, if you will,
>>belonging to a person. One man's virtue, in other words, might be another
>>man's vice. Of course, Nietzsche isn't really referring to individuals
>>here, but to types (the noble vs. the common, etc.). To impute a "value,"
>>on the other hand, would seem to me to impute it for all. Nietzsche's point
>>would be that such would only be "herd-values."
>
>I getcha, tho I meant 'value' as quality so that herd-values would 
>be categorized as really low quality virtues.
>
>But, as you know, one criitque of Nietzsche takes him  to task for
>a qualitative-relegation of beings.  The ontology of the will, sez heidegger,
>leads to a kind of inventory of beings according to qualities, be they
virtues,
>vices, or values.  
>
>For example, above, "types" are typified as "noble" and "common,"  
>and Nietzsche provides an inventory of human "types."

Except, it seems to me, that Nietzsche's position here is really no
different than Heidegger's notion of authenticity. I would even go so far
as to say that Heidegger's notion comes directly from Nietzsche.
"Herd-virtues" are, in this sense, inauthentic because they are derived
from an external authority, rather than being integral to the individual
(as symbol of a type). "Become what you are," ala Pindar, in other words.

Note also the following from Plato's dialogues (sorry, don't have my finger
on where):

"It is just to give every man his due." -- Simonides

"And further, we often heard it said and often said ourselves that justice
consists in doing the things that belong to oneself." -- Socrates.

Nietzsche's point, I can't help but feel, is that herd-virtues
(herd-values, if you will) subvert both of these possibilities.

Best,

Steve




	--- from list nietzsche-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---