Would Nietzsche be more of a Capitalist or Socialist?

Question

In your own opinion, that is.

I'd presume Capitalism, only because of the competiveness which seems a more likely setting for the "rearing of a Superman." Of course, I haven't quite grasped Nietzsche all the way.

Answer 1

The Nietzsche Scholar Walter Kauffman said that in Nietzsche you find him saying one thing somewhere and probably the exact opposite somewhere else. In my opinion, one really needs to read ALL of Nietzsche's works to TRULY understand him.

Regarding the question, indeed Nietzsche would probably prefer Capitalism over Socialism but probably not the pure form as many of you might think. There are places in his writings where he does actually speak of compassion. If you remember Nietzsche detested national socialism and German culture in general and actually denounced his German citizenship and moved out of the country.

Addressing the statement by Allegra Nietzsche's sister Elizabeth Forster, whose husband was a known Nazi, allowed the Reich to use his works (pieces of Ecce Homo, Zarastrutha and Daybreak) as well as allow the famous picture of Hitler standing at the Nietzsche Museum. Addionally, Forster also published some of Nietzsche's later work posthumously and convienently edited them to sound more "nazi".

If anyone wants to discuss Nietzsche feel free to contact me.

Answer 2

Nietzsche Socialism

Answer 3

Nietzsche detested the weak.

He would have said that "socialism" is the philosophy of the lamb who viewed the powerful with envy. And so like the wolf who couldn't reach the grapes, they dismiss what is beyond them as something sour. He called it "ressentiment". Money is the root of all evil? That's only something people without money would say.

So of the two, I'd expect him to favor capitalism. But not exactly. The overman is not someone with a particular set of values, but a kind of character. An approach. A WILL to power. Such as the power to tell the rich that they can shove all their money up their a--. Nietzsche was a moral relativist, and he would say that the virtue of one person is the poison of another. Capitalism has this kind of freedom. But again, the overman is not a moral code, its a kind of person. Nietzsche did not come to preach capitalism. He prophesied (?) the coming of the overman, who has the WILL to choose it.

I'm now wondering if he ever said something specifically about capitalism. He certainly could have. But you know what I think? I think capitalist are Nietzchean.

Lastly: Caveat. Nietzsche has had several interpretations. (What do you expect from relativism?) And its always colorful to see what his other fans have to say.

Answer 4

Nietzsche would tell both capitalists and socialists to screw off.

P.S. When the Nazis embraced Nietzsche's writings and made pamphlets of his excerpts to hand out to the troops (which was done to boost morale), the writing was taken entirely out of context. That is, those who arranged the pamphlets used the bits that sounded Nazi while ignoring the other parts. Soldiers never got to read whole works, only cut-up pieces.

Answer 5

Capitalist of course!
What is socialism but a collection of weak individuals siphoning resources from strong individuals?
Nietzsche was know to advocate that strong people should not be bound by wishes of weak people(read his critic of Christian morals ), thus socialism is not a choice for Nietzsche.

Answer 6

I don't think he'd really care for either. Definitely not socialism. That doesn't mean Nietzsche was a fan of petty bourgeoisie capitalism's comfort-based, narrow-mindedness either. He speaks very dismissively of the unspiritual, uncreative business-minded man.

You really can't pigeonhole him into either category without doing damage to what he wrote.

Answer 7

Well, he was more embraced by the Nazis in the 1930's who were more in favor of capitalism than the Communists of that era but after reading most of his writings he sounds more like an anarchist to me...

Answer 8

Definately capitalist, in my opinion of course... if one had to chose between being a capitalist or socialist.

Personally, when I read Nietzshe I found him to be HILARIOUS in a way. You know, in his description of "a certain" monstrum with arthritic nastiness.

Heh.

Answer 9

Nietzsche is Dead.
God

Answer 10

Feudalist (Monarchist).