Books On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche (Author),

"On the Genealogy of Morals" by Friedrich Nietzsche is a philosophical work composed of three essays that critically examine the origins and values of moral concepts. Nietzsche uses a genealogical method to trace how contemporary morality developed, focusing especially on Judeo-Christian influences.

The first essay contrasts "master morality" and "slave morality." Master morality, originating from the strong and powerful, values qualities like strength and nobility as "good," while viewing weakness as "bad." Slave morality arises as a reaction by the oppressed, labeling the masters as "evil" and themselves as "good," creating a moral dichotomy rooted in resentment.

The second essay explores guilt, bad conscience, and punishment, showing that originally these concepts were not moral in nature but related to debts and obligations. With the rise of slave morality, particularly through religious frameworks, guilt and punishment took on moral significance, internalizing the repression of basic human instincts.

The third essay critiques ascetic ideals—values that reject worldly life and promote self-denial—as disguises for deeper drives, including the "will to power," which Nietzsche sees as a fundamental human motivation. He argues that these ascetic ideals obscure genuine life-affirming impulses, sustaining a morality that negates life’s true vitality.