2022/07/06 by Tom Minor
#Cruelty #Nietzsche #psychology.
paper · doi:10.5526/esj134
Cruelty as an expression of the ‘will to power’ is discussed in relation to an opposing theory of human motivations, which states that the ultimate goal of all human endeavours is the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. The battle line is drawn between Nietzsche and the psychological hedonists and consists of an analysis of sadomasochistic subjectivity. Based on the superior explanatory prowess of Nietzsche’s will to power, I argue that although the hedonists are not wrong in their model of sadomasochism, their model fails to explain why people derive enjoyment from the infliction of pain either upon themselves or others. The will to power is Nietzsche’s answer to why people enjoy pain and for this reason, his psychology is deemed more inclusive than the hedonist’s.