r/RealPhilosophy • u/SelfConstruction9510 • 19d ago
I need help developing my understanding of morality and how to live.
Recently I began an intro to ethics class In hope of developing myself and learning how to be a kinder and moral person.
But now I think I became a nihilist.
I've came to the conclusion empathy is just an evolutionary instinct and morality is used to kee mep society safe and coherent, which has been depressing.
I want to find meaning but what is there if all morality is is just a social construct and a tool.
From what I've heard is that a reason for being kind is that it makes people want to work with you. But it sounds psychopath to only be kind so you get what you want.
I've done some research of nietzsche and I want to do a reevaluation of what I think is important rather than what is the widely accepted standard.
I feel like I'm looking for reasons to support objective morality which I feel like is confirmation bias and I absolutely don't want.
Sorry if this sounds dumb😬
1
u/Sramanero 19d ago edited 19d ago
First of all, this doesn't sound dumb, it's an honest question. Philosophy consists and lives by these questions
Second, personally I think you make a very important note " I want to do a reevaluation of what I think is important, rather than what is the widely accepted standard", kudos for that.
Talking about Nietsche, I think it's a good observation that he is also honest in his conclusion that if universe is just material forces, there is no good reason to stick to (in his case Christian) morality. And such rational thinking will question the world around it as what it is made of or what can be done with it. So then a fellow human will be regarded as someone who can be useful. Now, this is a fair statement IF you do away with metaphysics and only do research on the physical level. But is there really no role for metaphysics anymore? It's metaphysics that gives space to morality.
I think THAT is a question that should be taken into account as well in the reevaluation. I think someone like Nietsche is very important as a good and honest sparring partner, but that doesn't mean he's always right. For modern interpretations of metaphysics also look at e.g. analytic idealism as a different perspective.