Jeffrey Velez 12/15/10 Phil 080 - Steven Yamamoto The Death of God o !hilo"o!

hi#al "tatement of $riedri#h ietz"#he ha" #ome %nder the "ame level of "#r%tiny& mi"%nder"tandin'& and #riti#i"m a" hi" e(#lamation that )God i" dead*+ ,ften di"mi""ed !remat%rely a" a "a#rile'io%" -ar #ry of athei"m& there i" more to thi" "tatement -hen e(amined in the #om!lete #onte(t of ietz"#he." -or/" and hi" !er"onal 0elief"+ 1n thi" !a!er 1 #on"ider& not 2%"t the "tatement it"elf& 0%t hi" di"a'reement" -ith reli'ion and 3hri"tianity in 'eneral& attem!tin' to %n#over -here the "entiment" for "%#h a "tatement may have ori'inated+ The"e are im!ortant #on"ideration" for "omeone "ee/in' to %nder"tand #om!letely -hat ietz"#he mean" 0y )God i" dead*+ 3ontrary to !o!%lar 0elief& he doe" not 2%"t ma/e thi" a""ertion -itho%t leavin' the reader a "ol%tion4 hi" idea" !re"ent the -ay to live a life o%t"ide the #onte(t of -hat he "a- a" "trin'ent reli'io%" do'ma"+ 5ltho%'h "ome #on"ider ietz"#he." "tatement to 0e a radi#al !ro#lamation of athei"ti# o%tra'e& hi" in"i"ten#e that )God i" dead* attem!t" to lay the fo%ndation for a ne- era of h%man e(i"ten#e& one that re#o'nize" man." a0ility to live -holly -itho%t the #on#e!t of a "%!reme& omni!re"ent God+

1+ ietz"#he." 6%alm" -ith 3hri"tianity 5ltho%'h rai"ed in a !io%"& reli'io%" ho%"ehold& ietz"#he fell o%t of to%#h -ith hi" reli'io%"

root"& 0e#omin' a #riti# of the reli'ion that he 0elieved -a" a hindran#e to h%man !ro're""+ 7e often differentiated 0et-een hi" i""%e" -ith the 3hri"tian 3h%r#h and hi" admiration for the man Je"%"+ 7e felt that the 3h%r#h mi"re!re"ented the ideal" that 3hri"t lived 0y -hile he -a" livin'& th%" !reventin' h%man" from attainin' -hat ietz"#he "ee" a" tr%ly val%a0le in the -orld+ 7e e(!o%nded %!on thi" in The Will to Power -hen he "aid8
1t i" an %n!re#edented a0%"e of name" to identify "%#h manife"tation" of de#ay and "%#h a0ortion" a" the 93hri"tian 3h%r#h&9 93hri"tian 0elief&9 and 93hri"tian life9 -ith that 7oly ame+ :hat did 3hri"t deny; <verythin' -hi#h today i" #alled 93hri"tian+99 = ietz"#he 1>2?

Thi" theme& the "e!aration of the 3h%r#h." )manife"tation" of de#ay* from 3hri"t& r%n" ram!ant thro%'ho%t ietz"#he." -or/"+ 7e #on"idered Je"%" to 0e a )free "!irit*& and ietz"#he@" 0elief that h%man" "ho%ld ta/e re"!on"i0ility for their o-n moral #o%r"e -a" manife"ted in the life Je"%" led+ everthele""& ietz"#he "a- thi" tran"formation of 3hri"t." life"tyle into a faith for other" to follo- a" )the e""ential error of 3hri"tianity9 =7azelton AB?+ 7e 0elieved that& on "ome level"& it -a" #r%el of Je"%" to en#o%ra'e the idea of livin' in hi" foot"te!" into the mind" of men and -omen -ho -ere "im!ly im!erfe#t& %nlettered and ordinary+ $or ietz"#he& the 3h%r#h -a" a !ro!onent of moral "lavery& not an advo#ate of a theolo'y -orthy of reveren#e+ 7i" #riti#i"m of the 3h%r#h tran"#ended the "eemin'ly erroneo%" re!re"entation of 3hri"t." ideal"+ ietz"#he 0elieved the !io%" !er"ona to -hi#h !eo!le -ere e(!e#ted to mat#h their live" limited a !er"on." a0ility to 'ro- a" a h%man 0ein'+ 7e di"a'reed -ith the em!ha"i" on %"in' one." earthly life a" a mere !ath to the afterlife& feelin' that the 3hri"tian vie- of morality "a#rifi#ed h%man !otential for fear& '%ilt& and a do'mati# "y"tem of moral "lavery+ 1n hi" o!inion& the fo#%" of 3hri"tianity -a" "olely that -hi#h i" prohibited, -hi#h only )o!!re""ed man and #r%"hed him %tterly& "in/in' him+++then into

the feelin' of a0"ol%te de!ravity it "%ddenly thre- the li'ht of divine mer#y& "o that the "%r!ri"ed man& dazzled 0y for'ivene""& 'ave a #ry of 2oy and for a moment 0elieved that he 0ore all heaven -ithin him"elf9 =7azelton AB?+ 7e 0elieved thi" "y"tem of teeterin' and totterin' in 0et-een the realm of "in and ri'hteo%"ne"" did not li0erate !eo!le or /ee! them tr%ly ha!!y+ ietz"#he -a" a !ro!onent of the e(a#t o!!o"ite& and from #riti6%e" "%#h a" the"e "temmed the intelle#t%al and lo'i#al %nder!innin'" of hi" mo"t #ontrover"ial "tatement8 )God i" dead*+ 11+ The Death of God ietz"#he fir"t made the #laim that God had died in "e#tion 108 of hi" 0oo/ The Gay Science+ There are n%mero%" -ay" of inter!retin' the"e three -ord"+ ,ne #o%ld re'ard hi" "tatement a" an athei"ti# affirmation& im!lyin' that God literally no lon'er e(i"t"+ Doe" thi" e(!lanation a'ree -ith the re"t of ietz"#he." -or/" tho%'h; $or him to !o"t%late that God i" dead& in the "en"e that he ha" literally !eri"hed& -o%ld 0e an a#/no-led'ement of hi" e(i"ten#e in the !a"t+ Thi" o%tloo/ #ontradi#t" -ith hi" athei"t vie-!oint"& tho%'h+ ,n the #ontrary& ietz"#he." !ro!o"ition i" not literal+ Cather& he i" referrin'& in 'eneral& to the domineerin' 'ri! that the #on#e!t of God held over the -orld& the )"hado-* that "till infl%en#e" the a#tion" of h%man" -ho #hoo"e to o0ey it+ 5##ordin' to ietz"#he in "e#tion >D> of The Gay Science& )the 0elief in the 3hri"tian God ha" 0e#ome %n0elieva0le* = ietz"#he 2BE?+ 1ndeed& )God i" dead* i" a m%#h different "entiment from )there i" no God*& and )the di"tin#tion m%"t 0e made+++0et-een God@" o-n death and the death of o%r faith in God+9 =Von Der F%ft 2B0?+ $or ietz"#he tho%'h& God." death& or the death of the 0elief in God& ha" lon' la"tin' and 'rand im!li#ation" for man/ind& and he o%tline" the"e a" -ell+

,ne -ay in -hi#h he !re"ent" the idea that God ha" died i" thro%'h a "tory a0o%t a madman8 he enter" the to-n "ho%tin' de"!erately that he i" "ee/in' God+ 5ll the man i" met -ith& tho%'h& i" la%'hter and mo#/in' 6%e"tion" from the non-0eliever" that he en#o%nter"+ Deri"ively& they a"/& )7a" he 'ot lo"t;+++Did he lo"e hi" -ay li/e a #hild;* = ietz"#he 181?+ :hen thi" ha!!en"& he la"he" o%t at the !eo!le aro%nd him& e(#laimin' that God #an.t 0e fo%nd 0e#a%"e h%man" have m%rdered him+ 5##ordin' to ietz"#he& the death of God in the -orld i" #om!ara0le to )G%n#hainin'H the earth from it" "%n*& a #o"mi# event that no do%0t -o%ld %"her in #onf%"ion& an'"t& and event%al death+ 1t -o%ld 0e a "eemin'ly ho!ele"" "it%ation that had no #han#e of 0ein' re#tified+ To him& the -orld ha" 0e#ome =or -ill 0e#ome& a" the realization of God." death 'ather" moment%m? dar/er& #older& -ith )ni'ht #ontin%ally #lo"in' in on %"* = ietz"#he 181?+ 1f thi" i" the #a"e& then -hy i" the death of God a 0enefi#ial thin' for ietz"#he; S!ea/in' vi#ario%"ly thro%'h the madman to hi" reader"& ietz"#he& at thi" 2%n#t%re in the 0oo/& ha" not "!e#ified yet 2%"t -hat the death of God im!lie" for man/ind+ 7e "im!ly is a madman& one -ho realize" that )Ghe ha"H #ome too early*& and that )thi" tremendo%" event i" "till on it" -ay& "till -anderin'4 it ha" not yet rea#hed the ear" of men+++thi" deed i" "till more di"tant from them than the mo"t di"tant "tar" -- and yet they have done it themselves = ietz"#he 182?+ 7e /no-" that God i" already dead - the !eo!le "im!ly #annot realize it yet+ 5 #r%#ial mi"ta/e that lead" to mi"re!re"entation of ietz"#he." idea" i" the tenden#y to inter!ret individ%al a!hori"m" "e!arate from the #onte(t of the entire -or/+ 1n 0et-een the "e#tion entitled )The Iadman* and "e#tion >D>& )the meanin' of o%r #heerf%lne""*& ietz"#he f%rther develo!" idea" and !re"ent" to the reader a more #om!lete idea of ho- to inter!ret the divine m%rder that he o%tlined in "e#tion 125+

The final "e#tion in The Gay Science that referen#e" the death of God i" in the "e#tion entitled& )The meanin' of o%r #heerf%lne""*+ Jnli/e !revio%" "e#tion" -here hi" rea"onin' for !rea#hin' the death of God may have 0een %n#lear and "eemin'ly mad& "e#tion >>D "%mmarize" -hat the re"%lt" of God." death -ill 0e on#e realized 0y the re"t of man/ind+ $or "ome& he note"& the death of man/ind." faith in God i" a!!arent4 ho-ever& thi" 'rand )event it"elf i" far too 'reat& too di"tant& too remote from the m%ltit%de." #a!a#ity for #om!rehen"ion even for the tidin'" of it to 0e tho%'ht of a" havin' arrived a" yet* = ietz"#he 2BE?+ <ven if !eo!le #o%ld %nder"tand that God i" dead& it -o%ld 0e diffi#%lt to ima'ine 2%"t -hat that death entail" -- ietz"#he." "tatement #alled for an overha%l of the entire :e"tern #on#e!t of "!irit%ality and morality& and& if one #an ima'ine& that tho%'ht may not ne#e""arily #on2%re ima'e" of e(#itement in the mind" of tho"e -ho have only /no-n one -ay of livin' for their entire live"+ $or tho"e -ho "till fo%nd them"elve" "t%#/ in the "hado- of -hat ietz"#he #alled )the old 'od*& there -a" an %n6%e"tiona0le& im!endin' )"e6%en#e of 0rea/do-n& de"tr%#tion& r%in& and #ata#ly"m* = ietz"#he 2BE?+ Some mi'ht ar'%e that& 0a"ed on the e(treme infl%en#e that reli'ion had over the mind" and a#tion" of !eo!le& "%#h a realization #o%ld only 0e a har0in'er for #ata"tro!he+ 1t i" only nat%ral to a""%me that& rather than #ome to 'ri!" -ith the notion that the old reli'io%" fo%ndation of "o#iety -a" def%n#t& !eo!le -o%ld !ani# and #lin' ti'hter to their ideal"+ <ither they -o%ld ta/e that ro%te or 0e#ome over-helmed 0y a "en"e of ho!ele"" nihili"m& havin' #ome to the #on#l%"ion that in their 'odle"" -orld& nothin' i" -orth livin' for any lon'er+ 5##ordin' to ietz"#he& the o!!o"ite rea#tion i" !o""i0le+ 1n the eye" of the !rivile'ed )!hilo"o!her" and Kfree "!irit".* -ho #o%ld "ee that the "#ene of the -orld -a" tran"formin'& the

#olle#tive death of faith in God -a" not a 'loomy or #ata"tro!hi# revelation+ Cather& ietz"#he maintain" a 'rand vi"ion of o!timi"m and freedom for the 'odle"" f%t%re that he fore"ee"& li/enin' it to "ailin' on the o!en "ea -ith no fear of dan'er - one -ith endle"" !o""i0ilitie" for man/ind+ 1n a -orld -here God i" dead& there i" no lon'er a need to "ha!e one." life aro%nd the val%e" of any reli'io%" do#trine4 !erha!" thi" i" the freedom ietz"#he -a" referrin' to in the final !ara'ra!h of )The meanin' of o%r #heerf%lne""*+ o lon'er 0o%nd 0y "%ffo#atin'& do'mati# moral re"tri#tion"& h%man 0ein'" -o%ld 0e free to )vent%re o%t a'ain& vent%re o%t to fa#e any dan'er4 all the darin' of the lover of /no-led'e i" !ermitted a'ain* = ietz"#he 280?+ ,%t of the #hao" -o%ld ari"e& at lon' la"t& the o!!ort%nity for man to 0e #reator of hi" o-n val%e"& and only thi" relea"e from the #on"traint" of )the old 'od* #o%ld !rovide the %n!re#edented freedom that ietz"#he #raved "o de"!erately+

:or/" 3ited 7azelton& Co'er+ 9:a" ietz"#he an 5nti-3hri"tian;9 The Journal of Religion& Vol+ 22& =Jan+& 1ED2?& !!+ A>-88 ietz"#he& $riedri#h+ The Will to Power, in The Authori ed !nglish Translation of "iet sche#s Wor$s& ed+ Fevy+ Fondon& 1E2D ietz"#he& $riedri#h+ The Gay Science% with a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendi& of Songs' Tran"+ :alter La%fmann+ e- Yor/8 Vinta'e-Candom 7o%"e& 1EBD+ Print+ Von Der F%ft& <ri#+ 9So%r#e" of ietz"#he@" 9God i" DeadM9 and it" Ieanin' for 7eide''er9 Journal of the (istory of )deas, Vol+ D5& o+ 2 =5!r+ - J%n+& 1E8D?& !!+ 2A>-2BA o+ 1