What is Nietzsche saying here?

Question

This quote found in TWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS, in a section entitled MORALITY FOR PHYSICIANS.

To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death freely chosen, death at the right time, brightly and cheerfully accom­plished amid children and witnesses: then a real farewell is still possible, as the one who is taking leave is still there; also a real estimate of what one has achieved and what one has wished, drawing the sum of one's life - all in opposition to the wretched and revolting comedy that Christianity has made of the hour of death. One should never forget that Christianity has exploited the weakness of the dying for a rape of the conscience…

Answer 1

Much of the meaning can be divined by simply referring back to the head of that section. To quote:

"The sick man is a parasite of society. In a certain state it is indecent to live longer. To go on vegetating in cowardly dependence on physicians and machinations, after the meaning of life, the right to life, has been lost, that ought to prompt a profound contempt in society."

In a sense, Nietzsche is re-defining life. He is saying that life is NOT just breathing and existing, but is instead those things which differentiate you from a potted plant. Whether he breathes or not, to Nietzsche a person who cannot boldly stride forth and overcome whatever new challenges he can find throughout the day is dead in the most meaningful sense.

This is why it is a morality for physicians. Life is sacred, but there is much, much more to life than just being alive. Those physicians who preserve 'being alive' at the expense of 'living to the fullest' have lost the substance while preserving only the image. That is why Nietzsche finds their works contemptible.

Christians also draw a lot of Nietzsche's ire, and not just for this point. In much of his work, Nietzsche rails against Christianity for sucking this same quality of life out of its believers... turning them from children eager to see the wonder of each day into guilt-ridden victims afraid of themselves and everything else. This is obviously not so for ALL Christians, but - just like the atrocity above with the physicians - to be true even occasionally makes it no less monstrous.

Answer 2

Personally, I see it less as a condemnation of the Christian religion as a warning to those who care for the dying.

The title "Morality for Physicians" seems to aim more at the idea (perhaps from the danger of ego) that a doctor's role is only to postpone death even at the cost of dignity and true life. Perhaps Nietzsche is referring to a physician's role to heal the patient, not just combat the illness. To treat the person and not just a body. To be "a trusted and learned friend" who heals the person even if the ultimate outcome is physical death. (1)

I think the reference to Chrisianity (though a statement based upon a limited understanding of the intended truth of Christ's teachings) is based upon the historical tread seen by the works of the Church of imposing an ego-based will upon the life of others. This is an example of how not to be in pursuit of a noble goal.

Answer 3

This is argument for death with dignity, rather than fighting to the very end when even sanity is gone. He is arguing against the Christian belief that to take ones own life or to assist another to die with dignity when the end is inevitable is a sin.

I agree, much of the evil in this world would go away if the various religions would give up on the notion that they and they alone know what god's will is and that anyone who disagrees with them is guilty of a "Sin."

Answer 4

Nietzsche felt strongly that organized Christianity was a means for the subjugation of the masses through the propagation of the notion that "meekness" was the central virtue one could possess... It therefore followed that the institution of the Church could exploit this. The mass of people are "sheep", who are lost without the guidance of the Church (the "Sheppard").

Contrary to this idea, Nietzsche felt that real virtue was a life of independence and self-determination. It is obvious from this quote that he felt that the notion of suicide as being sin, and the Church's insistence upon controlling the circumstances of ones death, robs the individual of this right to self-determination which was so central to the life of dignity with free choice that to him was all-important. "Rape" is violent exploitation of anther's weakness- An imposition of control. This is what Nietzsche felt that the Church was attempting through the idea of suicide as sin... Control f ones behavior through the control of ones conscience.

Answer 5

Choose when and how to die. Know when to move on from the life you live.

You are able to look back at what you wished to happen and compare it to what has happened. If you choose your death you have the potential to say your good byes and show your accomplishment.

Rather than having people speculate after you are gone. He infers that christianity has exploited the fear of death to instill a sense of urgency and fear in people. Sometimes people will not think of their conscience in an attempt to accomplish their goals.

I may be wrong but that's what i get out of this excerpt.

Answer 6

i'm no longer particular, yet he would desire to be talking on the subject of the version between the belief and the reality. words and acts used to speak some philosophy are no longer something greater then guidance that would desire to a strategies-set; purpose that's experientially based and would by no ability be rendered for everyone different then the guy who's the 1st guy or woman. like the strategies-set that holds the philosophy is the seed mutually as the acts and the words are the bloomed flower.

Answer 7

His morality based on the individuals mind (life) being a means to his own ends, instead of the collectivists view of self sacrifice for the group. They want you to believe your life is a means to their ends instead.

Answer 8

Right to die. It seems that people who live through unimaginable pain are just doing it for approval.