The Mind of a Criminal: Part 2
The Businessman, Explorer, and Criminal
(This is part 2 of a series, part 1).
THE CRIMINAL AND HIS LIKE
In “Twilight of the Idols (pgs. 77 and 78),” Friedrich Nietzsche describes people with mindsets and traits akin to criminals (the section from the book is called The Criminal and His Like):
“Let us generalize the case of the criminal; let us imagine creatures who for some reason or other fail to meet with public approval, who know that they are regarded neither beneficent nor useful - the feeling of the Chandala, who are aware that they are not looked upon as equal, but as proscribed, unworthy, polluted. The thoughts and actions of all such natures are tainted with a subterranean moldiness; everything in them is of a paler hue than in those on whose existence the sun shines. But almost all those creatures whom, nowadays, we honor and respect formerly lived in this semi-sepulchral atmosphere: the man of science, the artist, the genius, the free spirit, the actor, the businessman, and the great explorer. “
In this paragraph, Nietzsche is referring to criminals feeling like they are Chandala. The Chandalas were the lowest class in Ancient India. They were considered “untouchables” and no one else was expected to interact with them.
Nietzsche then compares scientists, geniuses, and businessmen to criminals and Chandala. Nietzsche is saying that people who are bold, respected and exist on the outer fringes of society, such as the businessman or free spirit, are similar to the criminal.
According to Nietzsche, the criminal’s domain is a wild and savage state that is dangerous. Hence, his comparison of businessmen, free spirits, and great explorers to criminals and Chandala. Businessmen and great explorers are respected and honored today, even though their realm can be very wild, savage and dangerous as well.
This analysis leads to a few very important questions:
Why does society venerate businessmen, great explorers, actors, and free spirits, but does not value the criminal?
How are these value judgements made?
Who makes these value judgments?
The next article in this series will be about who makes these judgements, and why these value judgements are made in society.
REFERENCES:
Nietzsche, Friedrich (1889). Twilight of the Idols. Wordsworth Editions Limited.