Why is it that only human beings can be ethical?

This post discusses Nietzsche's metaethics, Aristotle's answer to unequal friendship, and Nietzsche's response to equality. Pangle calls the "respect motive" for unequal friendships.

Nietzsche's metaethical views on inferior beings aren't synonymous. Nietzsche's metaethical problems aren't semantic; they include normative characteristics, which he rejects as psychologically deficient.

Because of Nietzsche's radical ideas on inferior beings, metaethical theories should be considered in light of them. He says morality originates in our subconscious urges. These reasons may reveal morality's historical foundations.

Aristotle defined virtue-friendship as recognising a person's moral essence. Aristotle's remedy to inferior people's unequal friendships. A virtuous friendship is when two people love one other despite their differences. This requires an unshakeable, unalterable moral character.

This method ignores the other party's needs. Aristotle doesn't consider slaves friends. He thinks slaves are morally defective and can't make friends with free people. Slaves aren't pals because they lack goals. Aristotle says a slave has no moral compass and cannot live a "good life." Aristotle said non-human animals can't understand moral behaviour, yet humans and dogs may feel affection and loyalty.

Friedrich Nietzsche shaped modern intellectual history. His essays focused on the value system and criticised society and religion. He stressed the need of prioritising one's own values over others'.

Nietzsche's worldview failed to consider historical context. Meekness was an antidote to the barbarian characteristics that nearly killed out the first millennium of Christianity. Nietzsche looks to his own civilization for nutrition and safety.

In Man's Search for Meaning, Nietzsche argues that equality shouldn't be linked with morality because morality is "prudence of the weak." Nietzsche thinks equality and equal importance are different. Despite opposing equality, he's moral. If equality is the goal, then morality is required to attain it.

Nietzsche's answer to equality raises psychological issues. His point is that ensuring everyone has equal opportunities is incompatible with maximising happiness. His point is that to do so, people must overcome increasingly harder problems.

Nietzsche's reaction to Pangle raises questions about compassion and truth. Nietzsche says the idea that humans were designed for higher purposes is irreconcilable with such concepts. This criticism affects moral philosophy and ethical research.

Nietzsche's ethics are admirable but not universal. Only "upper types" can fully realise their positive potential, he says. Psychophysical health and vigour define these persons. They're independent, sincere, and support life.

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