Réeaktivitet i moralens oprindelse

Abstract

The aim of this project is a comparison between Friedrich Nietzsche and Paul Rées theories on the genealogy of morality. The main work used is Nietzsche’s “On the genealogy of morals”. Nietzsche’s accusations against the Darwin-inspired Rée and other moral philosophers of the day, are brought to light, and are held up against Rée’s own moral theory, as it is articulated in “The origin of the moral sensations”. We argue that it is essential that “On the genealogy of morals” is understood in relation to what it criticizes, in order to truly fathom its meaning. In their view on man, Nietzsche and Rée’s theories leap out from the same naturalistic and anti-metaphysical soil, laid out by Charles Darwin. From here the differences begin to appear, as a cause of different methods of investigation. We focus on theoretical differences in relation to punishment, conscience, remorse, moral values, and Nietzsche’s critique of the objectivity of modern science in relation to Rée.