Mediocrity - Modern Society is Cursed
Nietzsche's take on equality was prophetic
Eighteenth century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, was prophetic on his several philosophical takes on the future of Western society. One of his most prophetic takes on modernity was how equality would destroy excellence and quality of life in the West.
The Origins of Equality.
“Equality for all” was developed during the Age of Enlightenment. The origins of equality originated even earlier from Protestant Christianity, which opposed traditional Catholic Christianity. The Protestant idea of equality was that all humans were equal under the god of Christianity. Any Christian could directly speak to God through prayer and repent for their sins. This was opposite of traditional Catholic Christianity which empathized hierarchy in Christianity. The Pope solely spoke to God, and Catholics had to ask for their god’s forgiveness. Bishops and Cardinals held leadership positions over the average lay Catholic. Subsequent to the advent of Protestantism was the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Age of Enlightenment adopted the ideals of Protestantism, such as skepticism of authority, freedom of speech and thought, and equality. The idea of equality for all spread to America in the form of the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution. Equality for all began to be considered a liberal and progressive value and morality.
Nietzsche’s Take on Equality
Almost 100 years after the end of the Age of Enlightenment, equality for all was already deeply rooted in Western society. Around this time, Nietzsche had a very opposing analysis on the idea of equality. In his books “Thus Spake Zarathustra” and “Will to Power” he emphasized the fore coming negative effects on Western society that no one else saw coming.
For example, in Thus Spake Zarathustra, he said:
“Ye preachers of equality, the tyrant-frenzy of impotence crieth thus in you for equality:” your most secret tyrant-longings disguise themselves thus in virtue-word!” - Nietzsche, “Thus Spake Zarathustra (p.97)
In his book “Will to Power,” Nietzsche essentially warned us that equality would promote a decline in excellence and society becoming more mediocre. Society would devolve to appease the average person at best and below average person at worst if we’re all going to be viewed as equal. If society promoted and extolled exceptional people, we would not all be equal.
How Nietzsche’s Take on Equality Has Played Out
We can clearly see what the idea of equality for all has done to Western society. People who have lower qualifications are promoter or boosted up in order to make them “equal” to other, more qualified individuals.
Merit, excellence and productivity are considered less valuable, because corporate and political policies extol the “greatness” of average and below-average individuals.
Regarding economic policy, resentfulness makes up the mentality of less successful people using policy to harm more successful people.
The results have been decades of decline in the West. Our standard of living and quality of life have declined precipitously over the last 100 years.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you strive for excellence?
Have you given up trying to be excellent and just accept mediocrity?
Have you found any solutions to escape this downward spiral of diminishing quality of life in the West?
References:
Nietzsche, Friedrich (1883). Thus Spake Zarathustra, pg. 6. Wordsworth Editions Limited.