Masters vs. Slaves | Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality Explained

An introductory lecture summarizing the key ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche’s On The Genealogy of Morality.

Some links to further guide your study:

Companion lectures & interviews:

Texts I referenced (affiliate):

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 0. Introduction
00:06:17 1. Nietzsche’s Project
00:21:36 2.1 Resentment: Rome Against Judea
00:24:56 2.2 Resentment: Good & Evil / Good & Bad
00:28:23 2.3 Resentment: 3 Critiques of Slave morality
00:40:42 2.4 Resentment: Invention of Free Will
00:44:43 2.5 Resentment: Ad Hominem
00:49:09 3.1 Asceticism: The Priests
00:52:58 3.2 Asceticism: Social Control
00:56:18 3.3 Asceticism: Willing Nothingness
01:11:54 3.4 Asceticism: Need for Cruelty
01:17:05 3.5 Asceticism: The Problem of Suffering
01:20:59 3.6 Asceticism: A Psychological Argument
01:24:18 4.1 Limitations: The Will to Power
01:27:43 4.2 Limitations: The Sovereign Individual
01:29:42 4.3 Limitations: Nietzsche’s Life

[bi.johnathan]

Many in the comments have (rightly) pointed out that Nietzsche does not advocate for a simple return to the master morality of the Greco-Roman world.

I never intended to frame his positive vision as a simple return, which is why I emphasized the undesirable aspects of master morality (e.g. the masters being brutish) and the positives which slave morality has brought about (inner life, high culture, etc.). But my own grasp of his positive proposal was hazy. So after re-reading parts of the book and consulting with one of the top Nietzsche scholars Brian Leiter (whose book formed the basis of my original interpretation) here’s my updated view:

Instead of describing his project as: “What Nietzsche wants to elevate instead is what he calls master morality: inegalitarian, elitist, which he associates with the pagan world, the Greco-Roman world” … I should have said: “Nietzsche wants to make the creation of moralities structurally analogous to the old master morality possible and attractive.” Here’s the key distinction: Nietzsche is clearly not saying that we should resurrect Greco-Roman values as is but he wants to give higher men the license and impulse to establish new kinds of moralities that are structurally analogous to the old master morality and not the existing dominant slave morality. Such structural features include but are not limited to substantive positions (e.g. willingness to embrace suffering, inegalitarian view of humans) and meta positions (e.g. moral anti-realism, rejection of free will). Of course, there are many possible sets of moralities that can exist within these boundaries: both Napoleon and Beethoven are willing to embrace suffering and see difference among men but for different reasons and along different dimensions. In other words, Nietzsche’s project in the genealogy is more of a clearing of the ground so higher men can create their own (non-slavish) value systems. It’s more of a tearing down of slave morality than prescription of any determinate morality, which is reflected in the critical emphasis of the lecture.

A meta-point: please keep in mind that I am not a scholar of any of the books I’ve covered (with perhaps the exception of Girard). I only spend 8 weeks with one of these books, read 4-5 of the top secondary works, interview a few of the leading scholars, and hire a junior professor as a tutor to help gut check my interpretations. This is far from the work required to give “the best” interpretation. As comparison, I’ve spent years reading all of Girard’s work over and over again, published in the leading journal, and wrote a book-length manuscript on mimetic theory. In these great books lecture, I am only giving “an” interpretation that I find coherent and does not deviate too far from a dominant interpretation in the field, in this case leiter's. But also keep in mind that (especially with people like Nietzsche) there is no real “consensus” even among scholars. Go read Leiter’s book and you will find a large section of polemics against the other dominant Nietzscheans: Kaufmann, Nehemas, etc. The moral of the story is that there is ultimately no replacement for reading these books yourself (in the original language, because translation is interpretation) which is what I hope my lectures and interviews will inspire you to do.

[Bees-are-awsome]

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[kingdm]

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[igorschimidt]

Halfway through and I can already say this is for sure, and probably by far, the best random youtube recommended video I've gotten yet. Surprisingly fascinating. Bravo.

[ShalomSarahJoy]

As someone who didn’t understand fasting (only saw it as starvation or self denial), then started doing it and realized why it’s a common practice in so many different religions:

It’s not just about asceticism if done “right.”

When one stops filling oneself and surrenders one’s grip on control, it creates a vacuum (more space and a void) that PULLS inspiration, epiphanies, enlightenment, answers, visions, clarity, or aha! moments IN

That’s why starving oneself to lose weight is different from fasting. Leads to different results even though technically the action/path is “the same.”

[mrcobbyism]

Your brilliant lectures on Girard opened my mind to a break taking vista of new ideas. And now a lecture on one of the seminal texts of our modern times, for free no less? A truly special gift!

[ReverseTranscriptase]

This is truly your calling. Please never stop reading and educating the general public. Your insights are needed and certain to make all of humanity better in the long run. You deserve unbridled success for your elocution and your willingness to synthesize ideas from history and philosophy.

[matthewjohnson]

I think this is one of the most life altering videos I have ever seen on YT. Hope this gentleman continues to do lectures like this

[HermesSoilder]

You've completed destroyed my ability to watch some speakers talking about philosophy cause now the bar is too high. What an absolutely outstanding presentation.

[Ccm]

The Japanese have a concept in Ikigai that aligns with the idea of Master and Slave Morality. It recognizes that some individuals have the duty to lead (Master Morality), while others are more suited to serve (Slave Morality). The key isn't about leaders being self-absorbed or servers being incompetent. Instead, the solution lies in combining and acknowledging their strengths. By learning to balance and complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, they can work harmoniously and effectively together.

[AngeloSomers]

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[ausivan]

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[SUCCESSCHASERS]

This lecture was just brilliant, thank you so much for the high quality production

[joekatsala]

The flow, the fluidity, the delivery, and the coherence. This lecture is such a work of art in itself.

[mattayoubi]

Reminiscent of the late Dr Michael Sugrue. You’re a gifted orator Jonathan, amazing work.

[ski]

Marcus Aurelius, the humble stoic master deserves close review. A man that had all of the power of the World at his fingertips and yet he lived a modest, morally righteous life.

[joshuaduggan]

This is the most intellectually challenging thing that I have come across in a long time. I admire how the lecture is willing to touch sensitive topics in pursuit of exploring the literature.

[ketoko]

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[flowwolf]

As an avid reader of this greatly misunderstood philosopher, I love this video and I have watched it many times.
I think it's the best introduction I know to the genealogy and to Nietzsche's perspective on morality in general.
Thank you for uploading Jonathan.

[Msmkilo]

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