Book SummaryBeyond Good and Evil, by Friedrich Nietzsche

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Beyond Good and Evil

The entire philosophical and religious canon is a bunch of collective delusions, according to 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In Beyond Good and Evil, he constructs this argument with logical premises, insults toward his peers, and challenges to the assumptions underlying Western thought. He then offers an alternative to conventional philosophy and morality: a worldview that promotes ambition, competition, and domination. In our guide, we’ll outline Nietzsche’s arguments in four parts:

• Part 1: The Problem With Philosophy outlines Nietzsche’s critique of conventional philosophy—that it purports to be objective.
• **Part 2: The Truth About...

Beyond Good and Evil Summary Part 1: The Problem With Philosophy

Nietzsche opens Beyond Good and Evil with a critique of existing philosophy. He argues that the entire Western philosophical canon is dogmatic—that is, it’s based on a major unprovable assumption. Part 1 of our guide will explain the major assumption behind philosophy, as well as Nietzsche’s challenge to it.

(Shortform note: Nietzsche was not the first philosopher to accuse the Western canon of dogmatism. For example, 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume argued that the certainty of cause-and-effect relationships was a dogmatic belief. In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, he argued that humans can’t definitively prove cause-and-effect relationships because they’re based on our limited subjective experience. We believe a pencil will fall when we let go of it because this is what has always happened, but we have no way of definitively proving it will fall every time forever. But while Hume criticizes specific beliefs, Nietzsche challenges the entire Western philosophical canon.)

The Major Assumption: Truth Exists

Nietzsche explains that **the major assumption underlying the Western...

Beyond Good and Evil Summary Part 2: The Reality of Philosophy

After showing that the search for objective truth is impossible, Nietzsche argues that philosophers don’t even want to find objective truth. In reality, they’re motivated by a subconscious desire to exercise power over others. Part 2 of our guide will discuss this desire—which Nietzsche calls the will to power—and how he applies it to philosophy.

The Will to Power

Nietzsche describes a hypothetical force he calls the will to power: a living thing’s desire to exercise its strength on others and its environment. He suggests that the will to power is the basis for all living things’ behaviors, from simple acts of self-preservation to complex decision-making. For example, a rabbit eating grass exercises its strength by dominating the plant and impacting the ecosystem. In humans, the will to power inspires people to create, dominate others, and define themselves as unique individuals. An artist creating a painting exercises strength by influencing her peers with her art and impacting her society’s culture—while also defining her unique place within it.

Influences on the Will to Power

Nietzsche's theory of the will to power draws inspiration from several...

Beyond Good and Evil Summary Part 3: The Problem With Morality

After establishing the delusions of philosophers and revealing their true motives, Nietzsche turns to the subject of morality. He argues that moral systems are culturally constructed based on the circumstances of a given society. These moral systems attempt to promote cooperation and order. To demonstrate this, he discusses two different kinds of moral systems—master morality and herd morality—and uses historical examples to explain how they develop.

(Shortform note: Some scientists and philosophers argue that morality doesn’t just result from cultural circumstances—instead, it’s a natural trait that evolved to promote survival and cooperation. Studies of other primates like chimpanzees show that their social structures emphasize fairness and reciprocity, which are key elements of human morality. This suggests that there’s a biological foundation to morality that transcends cultural differences.)

Master Morality

The first set of values Nietzsche discusses is **master morality—a view that emphasizes strength, hierarchy,...

Beyond Good and Evil Summary Part 4: Looking to the Future of Morality

After explaining the subjective nature of morality, Nietzsche argues that Western society must replace its dominant Christian morality. Part four of our guide will explain why he thinks this is the case and how he suggests his readers go about this project.

The Problem With Christianity

According to Nietzsche, Christian morality (as a type of herd morality) is stagnant and nihilistic. It’s stagnant because its emphasis on equality and restraint promotes mediocrity—the uniquely strong and capable are often considered evil if they dominate others or embrace worldly pleasures in their pursuit of greatness. This means society will stand in their way and try to prevent them from ever pursuing greatness in the first place. Nietzsche believes Christian morality is nihilistic because it views everything that happens in the material world as insignificant, instead focusing on a hypothetical afterlife.

(Shortform note: 20th century German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer argued that a truly just Christianity is not and cannot be nihilistic about worldly affairs. He explained that while earthly affairs might be less important than salvation and the afterlife, [they’re...

Shortform Exercise: Consider Nietzsche’s Critiques

Reflect on how Nietzsche’s critiques of Western philosophy and morality compare to your beliefs.

Do you believe reason and logic are subjective concepts rooted in culture (as Nietzsche argues), or do you think they have fixed, universal meanings? How so?