Internet Exercises

Exercise 1

Friedrich Nietzsche is often regarded as the world’s most famous existentialist. This philosophy is essential to what Collins and Makowsky refer to as “Nietzsche’s attack on Christianity.”

Go to http://www.geocities.com/sedatbay/Felsefe/existentialism.htm. After you have read the contents of this site, answer the following questions:

1. How has Nietzsche’s existentialism influenced modern sociological thought?



2. According to Collins and Makowsky, Nietzsche’s main attack was on “the imperative of altruism” (p. 67). How does this fit in with existentialist thinking?



3. Collins and Makowsky observe that “Nietzsche charged the liberal and radical movements of his day with simply perpetuating….the sufferings of others” (p. 69). Nietzsche was obviously concerned with the plight of the disadvantaged. How do you think his philosophy has influenced contemporary writings on social inequality?

Exercise 2

As Collins and Makowsky point out in Chapter 4, Nietzsche “saw will as the essence of all life and of all existence as well” (p. 68). Nietzsche believed that a will to achieve power is inherent in the life force of the world. Nietzsche’s thinking is basic to various discussions in sociology that focus on power and conflict.

Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_to_Power. After you have read and evaluated the contents of this site, respond to the following questions:

1. How is Nietzsche’s notion of the “will to power” related to modern discussions of conflict and power in sociology?



2. According to your text, Nietzsche believed that “life is only worthwhile as a clear, unobstructed expression of the will” (p. 69). What did he mean by this?



3. A key dimension of modern conflict theory in sociology is that people will inevitably struggle over scarce resources. How is this observation mirrored in Nietzsche’s concept of the “will to power”?