Choose the option that best summarizes the passage given below.
Modern bourgeois society, said Nietzsche, was decadent and enfeebled-a victim of the excessive development of rational faculties at the expense of will and instinct. Against the liberal-rationalist stress on the intellect, Nietzsche urged recognition of the dark mysterious world of instinctual desires-the true forces of life. Smother the will with excessive intellectualizing and you destroy the spontaneity that sparks cultural creativity and ignites a zest for living. The critical and theoretical outlook destroyed the creative instincts. For man's manifold potential to be realized, he must forego relying on the intellect and nurture again the instinctual roots of human existence
Show Hint
- Nietzsche urges the decadent and enfeebled modern society to forego intellect and give importance to creative instincts
- Nietzsche urges the decadent and enfeebled modern society to smother the will with excessive intellectualising and ignite a zest for living
- Nietzsche critizes the intellectuals for enfeebling modern bourgeois society by not nurturing mans creative instincts
- Nietzsche blames excessive intellectualization for the decline of the creative instincts in modern society and suggests nurturing creative instincs instead
- Because of the effects of excessive intellectualization, the modern bourgeois society, will no longer be able to be creative
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for the best summary of a philosophical passage describing Nietzsche's views. A good summary needs to capture both the problem Nietzsche identified and the solution he proposed.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's break down the passage's argument:
Problem: Modern society is "decadent and enfeebled."
Cause: The cause is the "excessive development of rational faculties at the expense of will and instinct." This "excessive intellectualizing" destroys creativity and the zest for living.
Solution: Man must "forego relying on the intellect and nurture again the instinctual roots of human existence."
A complete summary must include both the cause (the problem) and the solution.
Let's analyze the options:
(A) Nietzsche urges... to forego intellect and give importance to creative instincts
This is partially correct but too extreme. The passage says "forego relying on the intellect" and criticizes "excessive development," not to abandon intellect entirely.
(B) Nietzsche urges... to smother the will with excessive intellectualising...
This is incorrect. The passage presents "smother the will with excessive intellectualizing" as the problem to be avoided, not the solution to be implemented.
(C) Nietzsche critizes the intellectuals for enfeebling modern bourgeois society...
This correctly identifies part of the problem but omits Nietzsche's proposed solution (nurturing instinct). Therefore, it is an incomplete summary.
(D) Nietzsche blames excessive intellectualization for the decline of the creative instincts in modern society and suggests nurturing creative instincs instead
This is an excellent summary. It accurately identifies the cause of the problem ("blames excessive intellectualization") and the proposed solution ("suggests nurturing creative instincts instead"). It covers both critical parts of Nietzsche's argument as presented in the passage.
(E) Because of the effects of excessive intellectualization, the modern bourgeois society, will no longer be able to be creative
This states a consequence of the problem but does not include Nietzsche's analysis or his call to action (the solution). It is not a summary of his entire argument.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Option (D) is the most comprehensive and accurate summary because it encapsulates both Nietzsche's diagnosis of the problem (excessive intellectualization) and his prescription for a cure (nurturing instinct).
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