FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE'S “TRANSVALUATION OF VALUES†IN THE LIGHT OF NIGERIA'S MORAL PREDICAMENT

Abstract

Nigeria, like many other countries in the world, is undergoing various social troubles like terrorism, kidnapping, corruption, armed banditry, inept leadership, electoral violence and rigging, internet fraud, ethno-religious violence, incessant academic and occupational strikes, examination malpractices, etc. The fact is that the problems above border on people's ethical behaviour. If people live by ethical values the problems above will be seriously mitigated. In harnessing moral values, to combat the moral predicaments in Nigeria, various persons are inspired by various ethical systems. This paper critically and analytically interrogates the moral philosophy of “transvaluation of values†proposed by Nietzsche to see if it can help to combat the Nigerian moral predicament. Nietzsche proposes that religion in general, especially western Christianity endorses a weak lifestyle in extolling values like piety, humility, prudence, gentleness, martyrdom, etc., instead of proposing a strong lifestyle of power, vitality, strength, etc. There is need for a reversal of the values proposed by Christianity, to values that enable man to rise to become the Übermensch (superman). The question before this paper is to discuss whether the values proposed by Nietzsche can help to eradicate the moral predicaments in the Nigerian society and make it a better society. Through critical analytic and hermeneutic methods, the paper finds and concludes that the “transvaluation of values†proposed by Nietzsche will morally cripple Nigeria and make matters worse. Nietzsche does not hold the solution to the Nigerian moral crisis.