When it is said that Nietzsche detested the 'weak', does that mean physically weak?

Question

Or just mentally?

With Nazism aside, what were his views on physically/mentally disabled people as well as those whom aren't, shall we say, 'physically attractive/perfect'?

Answer 1

There is a chapter in "Thus spoke Zarathustra" about the virtue that makes small. An introduction to "ressentiment" perhaps? It is neither physical weakness or mental weakness (lack of intelligence). It is the weakness of allowing yourself to be content. Its succumbing to the temptation of being comfortable. The strenght that he is preaching, involves the strenght of the will.

As you probably know, Nietzsche himself went insane. And he wasn't very physically attractive either. Sometimes I wonder if its precisely because he was unwilling to be comfortable?

And yes Nazism is an aside. Nietzsche would have convulsed at the idea of millions of blind German aryans following the dictates of one anti-semite. Here is a quote from Nietzsche's letter to his sister:

"You have committed one of the greatest stupidities—for yourself and for me! Your association with an anti-Semitic chief expresses a foreignness to my whole way of life which fills me again and again with ire or melancholy. … It is a matter of honor with me to be absolutely clean and unequivocal in relation to anti-Semitism, namely, opposed to it, as I am in my writings. I have recently been persecuted with letters and Anti-Semitic Correspondence Sheets. My disgust with this party (which would like the benefit of my name only too well) is as pronounced as possible."

—Friedrich Nietzsche, Letter to His Sister, Christmas 1887

Answer 2

"Weakness," for Nietzsche, has little if anything to do with physical disability or deficiency. By "weak," Nietzsche means "sheeplike." A weak person is one who mindlessly adopts the self-destructive and life-denying value system pushed upon him by others. As far as Nietzsche is concerned, to attain the standpoint of strength is to face the fact that the search for truth ultimately undermines itself. At this point, the strong person re-values the world according to what is most life-affirming for him. This is the "will to power," and Nietzsche identifies this with strength.

The Nazis adopted Nietzsche unreflectively: they were among the most sheeplike people in modern history, and Nietzsche had little patience with any sort of nationalism. One of the greatest ironies of the history of ideas is the Nazi adoption of Nietzsche as an ideological figurehead.

Answer 3

Weak means -- unable to adopt to his environment.
This can potentially mean physically weak, but not necessarily.
For example 7 foot 2, 260 pound giant with IQ of 45 who ends a circus freak would hardly be called "strong" by Nietzsche .
On the other hand a self made successful billionaire who happens to be unable to walk would hardly be called "weak"

Answer 4

I think he meant "weak" physically and mentally.

Answer 5

He was sickly, and by weak he seems to have meant unable to be themselves.