#89 "The Will to Power": Is Nietzsche Correct?

This is in response to an email I received the other day from a young man who is struggling with the questions most youth do. Many of you may remember what it was like when puberty struck and you had reached the "age of reason". It isn't always an easy time.

My young friend is rebelling against organized religion, the coming of age, the need to become self-reliant, the need to make music, the need to make a mark in his world. He has been doing a lot of reading and has discovered Nietzsche, among others. He is currently enamored of "The will to power" and how it manifests itself among us all. He has decided that this the primary force that is operating, and he is not too far off.

I have suggested some readings to him, and asked him to check out the Teachings of Michael site and given him the Micheal Handbook. (I readily admit to the bias in the list. They are books that have been of great value to me.) His acceptance of the will to power has caused me to do some reflection too. I had suggested to him that there is a "force" in the universe that tends to hold us all together. I choose to call that force the energy of love. He has taken an exception to that and that is OK in my book. At least he is still exploring, and I guess he will change his mind many times before it is over.

He cited these three statements from The Anti-Christ:

"What is good?— Everything that heightens the feeling of power in man, the will to power, power itself.

What is bad?— Everything that is born of weakness.

What is happiness?— The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome."

Do these statements remind you of anything? It almost sounds as the rationalization to commit terrorist acts, or retaliate against such with no plan on how best to do it.

Good is whatever increases the feeling of power in man could be agreeable if we view it as developing the power of self-worth, personal power. Power for power itself is worthless if you have to you use it to prove you have it. That strikes me as being powerless. This seems to lead to bullying to prove one is powerful which seems to be power-negating.

I suspect that Nietzsche literally meant it to be for men only. That would be another weakness in the argument. How powerful can a person be if that power can only be valid when shown against the supposed weakness of others? How is Nietzsche suggesting that power be exercised or displayed?

Bad is what is born of weakness. We might find agreement here if we realize that an individual who gives up her/his personal power to others. That would be less than ideal. On the other hand, is Nietzsche talking about the exercise of brute strength?

Happiness is the realization that the growth of power is in proportion to that resistance is overcome. Here again Nietzsche suggests that it is really the use of power to subdue others and bend them to your will. The next question to ask might be, how will we all be happy if, simultaneously we must be overcome by others for them to be happy?

Having studied/taught assertiveness training, it seems to me that the development of personal power is a worthwhile goal. Personal power is the recognition that one is the master of his/her own fate and is free to make choices. When making choices the person operating from personal power will consider the outcomes so that others are not harmed by them.

I am not sure if this makes much sense to anyone else. I am not sure I put all of my thoughts down. They are points to ponder and I will suggest to my young friend to come here and tell me what he thinks.

#89