High Men Research Articles

The Importance of Being Honest: Free Spirits and Idiosyncrasy in Nietzsche

The main argument of this paper is that the debate on whether Nietzsche is communitarian or individualist is wrongheaded, failing to distinguish the conception of community and individual Nietzsche critiques, the 'mob' and the 'Higher Man', from the conceptions Nietzsche envisions and hopes for, his 'free spirits' and – what I call, based on the critique of indivisible subjects in the Genealogy of Morality – the idiosyncrasy. I propose a reading of Nietzsche which elaborates his novel conception of a non-ascetic will to truth, based in courageous honesty and self-overcoming, rather than self-preservation, in order to conceive these individuals and communities. The coupling of Dionysus and Apollo has to be replaced with Dionysus and Ariadne because, using key terms from Deleuze's Nietzsche, the sense and value of critique is generated from a labyrinthine, Dionysian meaning as will to power and Ariadne's thread as evaluation based on the eternal recurrence, constituting the idiosyncrasy and the free spirits, respectively.

Incidence of injuries and their prevention in Czech ice hockey players.

Ice hockey is a dynamic game. We can observe collisions between the players that bring a risk of injury. There are many hockey clubs in the Czech Republic. These clubs raise great hockey players and many competing players in various levels of national leagues. The aim of this study was to map injuries in Czech hockey players and outline the situation of injury prevention and body care in ice hockey players. We used a questionnaire survey method to obtain data. We received answers from 100 male active Czech ice hockey players, playing in the top three highest men's competitions (Extraleague - 2nd league). Individual injuries were analyzed according to specific body parts, injury type, playing position, level of competition using basic statistical characteristics and relative frequency analyses, including the recovery time, injury reason and the injury statistics per 1000 sporting performances in ice hockey. We found that 81% of participants suffered injuries with the overall incidence of injuries was 17.1 per 1000 sports performances and mainly happened during the match compared to training. The most common injuries were in the head and neck area (25%), often caused by a collision with another player, a stick or puck hit, or a collision with a board. Other frequently injured parts were the knees (21%), where internal ligament injuries predominate, and the shoulders (20%), where we recorded mainly ligament injuries. There is a high risk of various injury types of ice hockey players, that are developed accidentally in all body parts mostly in the match (mostly upper part of the body and knee) or by overloading (hip/groin area). We recommend strategies to avoid or minimize the injury risk of players. The hockey clubs, coaches, and players should extensively and regularly cooperate with physiotherapists, starting from the younger age of hockey groups, to prevent injuries and use regular strengthening of crucial muscle parts, regeneration, and compensatory exercises. We endorse adequately evaluating dangerous foul actions for referees and disciplinary officials also in minor competitions.

Pathways from Men's Shed engagement to wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and lower loneliness.

Extensive qualitative evidence, but limited quantitative evidence, indicates that mutual aid organizations such as Men's Sheds have positive impacts on wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. A recently developed theoretical model proposes that Men's Sheds may have these impacts via mediating factors such as broadening social networks, increasing behavioural activation and physical activity, reducing alcohol use, and providing meaning in life. The aim of this study was to quantitatively test a model whereby psychological safety (feeling safe, accepted, and valued) is associated with Men's Shed engagement (frequency of attendance, duration of membership, diversity of activities), which is associated with the hypothesized mediators, which, in turn, are associated with wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. Men's Shed members (N = 333, Mage = 70.90 years, SD = 10.34, 98% male) completed a survey assessing the factors in the model. The hypothesized path model provided an excellent fit to the data. Findings indicated that higher psychological safety was associated with higher engagement, which, in turn, was associated with larger social networks and more meaning in life, which were associated with higher wellbeing and lower loneliness. Higher behavioural activation and less alcohol use were also associated with higher wellbeing. Higher Men's Shed engagement was not associated with higher behavioural activation and physical activity, or less alcohol use, but behavioural activation and alcohol use were directly associated with health-related quality of life. Implications for optimizing health outcomes within Men's Sheds are discussed.

High accumulation of the Man5GlcNAc2 structure by combining N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I gene suppression and mannosidase I gene overexpression in Nicotiana tabacum SR1

High accumulation of a single high-mannose glycan structure is important to ensure the quality of therapeutic proteins. We developed a glyco-engineering strategy for ensuring high accumulation of the Man5GlcNAc2 structure by combining N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnT I) gene suppression and mannosidase I (Man I) gene overexpression. Nicotiana tabacum SR1 was used as the glyco-engineered host owing to the lower risk of pathogenic contamination than that in mammalian cells. We generated three glyco-engineered plant strains (gnt, gnt-MANA1, and gnt-MANA2) with suppression of GnT I or the combined suppression of GnT I and overexpression of Man I A1 or A2. The quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis showed a higher level of upregulation of Man I expression in gnt-MANA1/A2 plants than in the wild-type plants. Man I activity assay showed that the gnt-MANA1 plants had a higher Man I activity than did the wild-type and gnt-MANA2 plants. N-glycan analysis independently performed on two plants of each plant strain showed that gnt-MANA1 plants had a low abundance of the Man6-9GlcNAc2 structure (2.8%, 7.1%) and high abundance of the Man5GlcNAc2 structure (80.0%, 82.8%) compared with those in the wild-type and gnt plants. These results indicated that GnT I knockdown suppressed further modification of the Man5GlcNAc2 structure, and Man I overexpression enhanced the conversion of Man6-9GlcNAc2 structures to the Man5GlcNAc2 structure. The developed glyco-engineered plants have potential for serving as novel expression hosts for therapeutic proteins.

Business Success Is for the Healthiest: An Analysis of Small-scale Entrepreneurs in Mumbai, Maharashtra

This study aimed to investigate the current health status of entrepreneurs and its impact on business performance. For the present study, a primary survey was conducted in Mumbai, from February to August 2018. A total sample of 540 self-employed migrants running small-scale business, whose last usual place of residence was different from the place of interviewing and was residing in Mumbai for more than 3 years were interviewed. The health of entrepreneurs was captured by assessing their self-reported health. Health has evolved as a paramount predictor in entrepreneur’s business success. Effects of health are multi-facet on business operations. Entrepreneurs, reporting to experiencing excellent status of health, were found to have higher man hours and working days as compared to relatively bad health. Findings from regression suggests respondents with a fair state of health were less likely to have a higher level of monthly income than respondents with excellent health. The study found a statistically significant association between physical activity, self- reported good health, and monthly income. Small-scale entrepreneurs engaged in the informal labour market often practice sedentary behaviour; henceforth, there is a pressing need to sensitise them to the importance of active physical activity, which shall reduce the risk of developing stress.

PROFITABILITY AND TIME CONSUMPTION AS INFLUENCED BY VARIOUS WEED CONTROL METHODS IN CURCUMA AMADA ROXB.

<p>To determine the profitability and time consumption of various weed control options in mango ginger, the field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (07° 20 N, 3° 23 E, 159 m above sea level) in the forest – savannah transition agroecology of Nigeria in the early cropping seasons of 2016 and 2017. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to evaluate ten weed control strategies and replicated three times. Data collected on weed cover, plant biomass, and rhizome yield were analyzed using ANOVA, and treatment means were separated using the least significant difference at p0.05. Results indicated that the highest man days in weeding was observed on the plots weeded five times at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after planting (WAP), while application of pre emergence herbicides generally reduced time spend on weeding. Despite the fact that weeding at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 WAP had the maximum rhizome production and yielded the highest gross return, application of oxyfluorfen (oxyf) at 0.24 kg a.i/ha as a pre and post emergence herbicide yielded the highest benefit cost ratio.</p>

Contact times in professional football before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Tracking data from the German Bundesliga

ABSTRACT The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to a lockdown in team sports in March 2020. Because the risk of virus transmission seems to correlate with the duration of close contacts, data on contact times are necessary to assess the risk of virus transmission in sports. In this study, an optical tracking system was used to determine contact times between players of the two highest men’s professional football leagues in Germany in the 2019–20 season and in the first half of the 2020–21 season. Contacts between players were defined as being within a two-metre radius during matches and were differentiated as either match-specific or non-match-specific. In total, 918 matches with 197,087 contacts were analysed. The mean overall contact time of one-to-one situations of 36 s (SD: ± 66) before the lockdown was reduced to 30 s after the lockdown (SD: ± 60) (p < 0.0001). In professional football, contacts between two players infrequently occur within a two-metre radius, averaging less than 35 s. Only 36 player pair contacts lasted for more than 15 min (0.00018%). The mean accumulated contact time per player with all others was 10.6 ± 6.9 min per match, with a decrease from 11.6 ± 7.0 min before the lockdown to 10.0 ± 6.6 min (p < 0.0001) after lockdown in the season 2019-20. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in match-specific contacts of 25%. It seems questionable if such short contacts in open-air sports may lead to considerable virus transmission. Highlights After the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown, the contact times of a football player with one other player as well as with all other players were significantly reduced in the 2019–20 season and in the first half of the 2020–21 season. Only 3.7–4.7% of all contacts between two players lasted longer than 2 min, and only 0.9% of contacts lasted longer than 5 min. Non-match-specific situations, such as goal celebrations, are an important part of football and constitute up to 33% of the player pairs’ contact time; limiting such situations may further reduce contacts between players.

Head injuries in professional football (soccer): Results of video analysis verified by an accident insurance registry.

BackgroundVideo analysis is one of the most commonly applied methods for analysing football injuries.PurposeThe objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of video analysis for recording head injuries in professional football from official matches in the four highest men’s professional football leagues in Germany.MethodsIn this cohort study, head injuries detected by means of video analysis of all official matches over one season (2017–18) were compared to head injuries registered with the German statutory accident insurance.ResultsOur video analysis yielded 359 head injuries of 287 players. The comparison of head injuries found in our video analysis to those registered with the accident insurance only yielded a match in 23.1% (n = 83), which presents a rather low verification rate. The verification rates varied between the leagues (7.0–30.8%). All injuries documented in the accident insurance registry were found in the video analysis (100%). The types of head injury most often verified by the accident insurance registry (n = 83) were contusion (43.4%), bone fractures (19.3%) and skin lacerations (18.1%). Only 66 of the 359 head injuries (18.4%) resulted in absence from at least one training session and involved a mean time loss of 18.5 days (1–87 days).ConclusionThe mismatch between the number of head injuries found in the video analysis and head injuries registered with the accident insurance is an important methodological issue in scientific research. The low verification rate seems to be due to the unclear correlation between injury severity and clinical consequences of head injuries detected by means of video analysis and the failure of football clubs to register minor head injuries with the accident insurance.

Assessing Rape Myth Acceptance: A Contribution to Italian Validation of the Measure for Assessing Subtle Rape Myth (SRMA-IT).

The study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Measure for Assessing Subtle Rape Myths developed by McMahon and Farmer. A sample of 3,915 university students (70.8% female) completed the questionnaire. After an exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis tested the resulting four-factor structure of the Italian Subtle Rape Myth Acceptance (SRMA-IT) Scale ("She Asked for It"; "He Didn't Mean To"; "It Wasn't Really Rape"; and "She Lied"), consistent with McMahon and Farmer's initial hypothesis. The Italian validation did not include items related to intoxication. Internal consistency of the subscales was good (α from .78 to .90). Convergent validity between all subscales and System Justification-Gender was detected: A strong relationship was observed (r is from .19 to .33; p < .001). The independent-sample T test then showed that women accepted all four rape myths significantly less than men: Effect size is more than moderate for the myth "She Asked for It" (Cohen's d = .60) and between small and moderate for the other myths (d is from .35 to .42). Acceptance of rape myths is often associated with higher men's proclivity to rape and with tendency to raped women's double victimization (they can be not believed or blamed when they disclose the rape). Having a validated instrument to measure rape myth acceptance can enhance empirical research on this topic and help to develop interventions of prevention both for men in the society and for the first responders to disclosures, also sustaining a culture of respect and of contrast to violence.

Talent Selection Strategies and Relationship With Success in European Basketball National Team Programs.

There is limited knowledge of the talent selection strategies used by national sporting organizations to identify and develop talented players in basketball. Therefore, we aimed to explore differences in selection strategies between European youth basketball national team (NT) programs, and how they relate to the program’s success. Specifically, we examined differences in the number of youth NT players and within-country variance in the 1988–1999 generations between 38 countries (n men = 38, women = 32). Further, we tested if the number of youth NT players and within-country variance was related to the NTs senior ranking, youth ranking, and youth-to-senior player promotion, using generalized Bayesian multilevel models. We further checked the moderating effect of the amount of licensed basketball players in each country. On average, 15.6 ± 2.0 male and 12.4 ± 1.8 female players were selected per generation. Over a third of the NTs consistently selected a higher or lower number of players than the average, with a difference of 8.1 players (95% CI [5.8, 10.8]) for men and 7.6 players (95% CI [5.4, 10.0]) for women between the countries with the highest and lowest average. When licensed players were used as moderator, the differences decreased but did not disappear, in both genders. There was an above 99.3% probability that a higher number of players was positively related to higher men’s senior and youth rankings, and women’s youth ranking. Within countries, generations with a higher number of youth players generated more senior players, with a probability of 98.4% on the men’s, and 97.3% on the women’s side. When licensed players were used as moderator, the probabilities for these relationships remained largely unaffected, apart from women’s youth ranking, which sank to 80.5%. In conclusion, the selection strategy in basketball NT programs varies between European countries and selecting a higher number of players possibly relates to better long-term performance and more players promoted to the senior NTs. These findings show that talent development programs should make conscious decisions about their selection strategies as it can affect their success.

Nietzschean Meditations: Untimely Thoughts at the Dawn of the Transhuman Era

Nietzschean Meditations: Untimely Thoughts at the Dawn of the Transhuman Era

Effect of Human Development Index and other socioeconomic factors on mortality-to-incidence ratio of lips and oral cavity cancer in Mexican states: an ecological study

ObjectivesTo assess the association between the Human Development Index (HDI) and covariates on the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) of lips and oral cavity cancer (LOCC) in Mexico.DesignEcological study.SettingData from 32 Mexican...

Are Differences in Bedtimes Bad for Relationships? Associations With Attachment and Conflict in Middle-Aged Couples

A robust body of literature has found birdirectional associations between sleep quality and marital quality in couple relationships (Hasler & Troxel, 2010; Pearlin, 2010). Additionally, dyadic research shows that differences in couples’ bed time routines and habits is associated with mental health outcomes (Chen, 2018), however the literature has not connected them with other marital processes that are mutable and clinically relevant. Attachment theory provides a clinically relevant framework that captures both interpersonal marital processes such as relationship conflict as well intrapersonal processes of individual emotional safety—essentially individuals’ personal strategies to balance closeness and distance in a relationship (Feeney, 2002; Rhodes et al., 2001). The two main attachment styles related to sleep processes are attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety (Collins et al., 2002; Gun, 2015; Troxel, 2007). Utilizing data from 234 couple dyads, we investigated if differences in partners’ bed times is associated with conflict frequency and attachment avoidance using a structural equation modeling approach. We controlled for a number of important factors and tested our hypothesized model against two plausible alternative models. Results revealed that greater difference in partners’ bed times was associated with higher conflict frequency for both husbands and wives through higher men’s attachment avoidance. Our findings highlight previous research on matched vs. unmatched couples on sleep routines, habits, and chronotypes (both morning or night vs. different; Larson et al., 1991) but highlight mutable and clinically relevant constructs for intervention. Implications for health promotion and marital therapy will be discussed.

The Nietzschean Body and the Death of God

Abstract “God is dead!” This is one of the most famous claims in Nietzsche’s philosophy, difficult to fully affirm. While the higher men fail to overcome the ghost of God, Zarathustra joyfully affirms God’s death. This affirmation deconstructs the metaphysical and moral concept of “divinity,” turning it into a metaphor. The new metaphor of the divine, mainly developed through the figure of Dionysius, expresses the capacity of affirming life beyond the old values, related to the dead God. It also involves the creation of a higher body beyond the body of despair, associated with these values. The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between the death of God and the body in Nietzsche’s account by analyzing the meanings of this death for the higher men, the question of the divine in Zarathustra’s account, and the status of the Dionysian body.

Empowerment in agricultural value chains: Mixed methods evidence from the Philippines

Abstract Women's participation and empowerment in value chains are goals of many development organizations, but there has been limited systematic, rigorous research to track these goals between and within value chains (VCs). We adapt the survey-based project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI) to measure women's and men's empowerment in the abaca, coconut, seaweed, and swine VCs in the Philippines and to investigate the correlates of empowerment. Results show that most women and men in all four VCs are disempowered, but unlike in many other countries, Filipino women in this sample are generally as empowered as men. Pro-WEAI results suggest that respect within the household and attitudes about gender-based violence (GBV) are the largest sources of disempowerment for both women and men, followed by control over use of income and autonomy in income-related decisions. Excessive workload and lack of group membership are other important sources of disempowerment, with some variation across VCs and nodes along VCs. Across all four VCs, access to community programs is associated with higher women's empowerment, and access to extension services and education are associated with higher men's empowerment. Our results show that, despite the relatively small gender gaps in the Philippines, persistent gender stereotypes influence men's and women's empowerment and VC participation.

Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy

The main events related to the assignment of the «Imperial» Medical and Surgical Academy status are considered. In the days of the celebration of the Academy’s 100th anniversary, publications dedicated to this event asserted that grateful offspring would always honor the memory of the Academy high Founders and Patrons. Our great predecessors, who celebrated the jubilee ideologically and organizationally, had recognized and honored Emperor Paul I as its founder. But the name and status the «Imperia Academy» was received from the hands» of Emperor Alexander I. On August 27, 1808, the Medical Surgical Academy, which had received Permission to be called Imperial, that was, a new quality (education) and other rights, the advantages granted to it, opened its first solemn meeting. That day, in our opinion, can claim to be considered the Birthday of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy. We emphasize that it is only about of the «Imperial» status. At that meeting the president of the academy James Wylie announced that the emperor «deigned to take on the title of Honorary Member of the Academy». On September 18, 1809, another great celebration took place in the Assembly Hall of the Academy devoted Alexander I and other High Men receiving the title of Honorary Members of the Academy. At the same time, the Emperor «showed his special favor to the Academy and bestowed upon it the Highest Charter, which «protects the rights and advantages of the Academy for all time». The most important provision of the Highest Charter was that, as a pledge of special imperial favor, the Medical and Surgical Academy was given the title of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy. That great celebration, its ritual procedure were reflected in the academic records: a thanksgiving service in the name of the Smolensk Mother of God in the academic church; the arrival of guests to a large academic audience (Assembly Hall, Conference Hall), members of the State Council, members of the Holy Synod, government ministers, foreign ministers; the arrival of Emperor Alexander I in «the Academy house»; the announcement of the Highest Diploma; the presentation of the diploma by the Minister of Internal Affairs Prince A. Kurakin to Emperor Alexander I; the highest order to present the diploma of the Academy; the receipt of the diploma by the President of the academy James Wylie and his thank-you speech; receiving diplomas Honorary Members of the Academy; election of new Honorary Members of the Academy; final speech of the President of the Academy; a visit to the Emperor of the academic church; breakfast of the Emperor in the dining room and his departure from the academy; further celebrations in the academy.

Women\u2019s education level amplifies the effects of a livelihoods-based intervention on household wealth, child diet, and child growth in rural Nepal

BackgroundMany organizations seek to alleviate poverty in the developing world, often focusing their interventions on women. The role, status, and education of women are fundamentally important facets of development. Thus, understanding the interaction of women’s educational level and the response to interventions is important. Therefore, we examined the impact of educational level of household adults on responses to a livestock-based community intervention.MethodsSix pair-matched communities in 3 districts of Nepal (Chitwan/Nawalparasi/Nuwakot), were randomly assigned to receive community development activities via women’s self-help groups at baseline or 1 year later. At 6 intervals over 48 months, a 125- item questionnaire addressing family demographics and child health/nutrition was completed in each household, plus child growth monitoring. Results were analyzed in relation to the highest education attained by any woman in the household, the child’s mother, men, or any other adult in the household.ResultsOutcomes (wealth, water/toilet availability, child diet diversity and growth) all significantly related to adult education. However, notable differences were found comparing the impact of men’s and women’s education. Percent change in wealth score was significant only in households where women had primary or secondary education (respectively, p = .0009 and p < .0001). Increased soap use related only to women’s education (p < .0001). When adjusted for group assignment, baseline income, wealth, and animal scores, higher women’s education was significantly associated with increased household wealth (p < .0001), better child height-for-age z scores (HAZ, p = .005), and improved child diet diversity (p = .01). Higher mother’s education predicted better child HAZ (primary, p = .01, secondary, p = .03) and diet diversity (primary, p = .05, secondary, p < .0001). Higher men’s education was significantly associated with household wealth (p = .02) and child diet diversity (p = .04), but not HAZ; higher education of any household member was associated only with household wealth (p < .0001). Moreover, households where the mother’s education was better than the best-educated man also were significantly more likely to have children with better HAZ and dietary diversity (p = .03, p < .0001). Thus, the educational level of women and mothers had the broadest impact on child outcome variables.ConclusionsHousehold characteristics vary among participants in most community development projects. Of these, adult education likely mediates response to the inputs provided by the intervention. Particularly in interventions directed towards women, better education may enhance the ability of households to put interventions into practice, thus improving wealth, hygiene, and child diet and growth indices.

Narcissism and Relationship Satisfaction from a Dyadic Perspective: The Mediating Role of Psychological Aggression

ABSTRACTThe mediating effect of psychological aggression between narcissism and relationship satisfaction was investigated among 128 nonclinical heterosexual couples (N = 256) in enduring relationships, using the actor–partner interdependence model. The results indicated two mediation paths affecting men’s relationship satisfaction: the higher men’s narcissism, the higher their perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was negatively linked with their own relationship satisfaction and the higher women’s narcissism, the higher their perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was negatively linked with their male partner’s relationship satisfaction. The analyses also revealed one mediation path affecting women’s relationship satisfaction: the higher their narcissism, the higher the perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was linked with lower women’s relationship satisfaction. Recommendations for further research and clinical implications are discussed.

The Effect of Ramadan Month on Changes in Objectively Assessed Physical Activity in Adults

Ramadan is the Islamic month, when Muslims around the world participate in an intermittent fast for 29 to 30 days as a part of their religious obligation. During this period, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Studies have shown that Ramadan fasting has negative influence on sleep, physical performance and attention. However, the effects of Ramadan fasting on physical activity are not clear. PURPOSE: To determine the impact of Ramadan month on objectively assessed physical activity among Muslim adults. METHODS: Around 802 Muslim adults (Males 51.7%) ages ranging from 18 to 60 years, were sampled from a national community health program in Qatar representing two consecutive years. Physical activity was assessed daily using a pedometer (Omron HJ-720 ITC). Daily average step count and aerobic step count during the days of Ramadan month was compared during non-Ramadan months (one month prior and one month after Ramadan). For this longitudinal study design, a linear mixed model statistical procedure was adopted to adjust for demographic and environmental factors to test the study hypothesis. RESULTS: Objectively assessed physical activity, i.e. daily average step counts per day, declined during the month of Ramadan compared to non-Ramadan months in this population. The average daily steps per day during Ramadan month was 7,267 (95% CI 7,180 to 7354) steps. When compared to one month prior Ramadan there was an average reduction of 619 steps (95% CI 483 to 755) per day p<0.001. The decline in physical activity during Ramadan was higher men (-729±74) steps compared to women (-490±81). However, one month post Ramadan the physical activity levels defined by daily average step counts increased by average 548 steps (95% CI 407 to 688) compared to Ramadan (P<0.001) and were similar to pre-Ramadan month (P=0.692). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that in this population, due to the shift in time of activity as well as calorie intake from daylight to evening hours during Ramadan there was substantial decline in objectively assessed daily physical activity among Muslim adults. Interventions are needed to promote physical activity during this period.

Why Should We Care About Nietzsche's ‘Higher Men’?

AbstractThis paper offers a new interpretation of Nietzsche's ‘higher men’ doctrine, which explains how he can simultaneously hold the following two positions: first, that higher types are especially important or valuable; and second, that all moral claims are false (i.e. a crude error theory regarding morality). Nietzsche can coherently subscribe to both views by arguing that higher types have wide inter‐subjective (prudential) value to lower types. More specifically, higher men, who are mainly characterized by their strong, commanding nature, fulfill a psychological need, common in most humans—the need to obey. The paper develops this conception of higher types and shows how it relates to Nietzsche's insights on culture, nihilism, and becoming.