In this discourse Zarathustra opens his exposition of the doctrine of relativity in morality, and declares all morality to be a mere means to power. Needless to say that verses 9, 10, 11, and 12 refer to the Greeks, the Persians, the Jews, and the Germans respectively. In the penultimate verse he makes known his discovery concerning the root of modern Nihilism and indifference,—i.e., that modern man has no goal, no aim, no ideals (see Note A).
criticism · Notes: Part I. The Prologue
Morality as means to power; modern goallessness
Ludovici says that 'The Thousand and One Goals' opens Zarathustra's doctrine of moral relativity, declaring all morality a means to power, with verses on the Greeks, Persians, Jews and Germans, and that its close diagnoses the root of modern nihilism: man has no goal.
On Zarathustra
- Revaluation of values (old and new tables)Each people's table of values is relative to its own struggle.
- Will to powerAll morality is declared a mere means to power.
- Nihilism (all is empty)Locates the root of modern nihilism in mankind's lack of a single goal.