# 252 explained — Beyond Good and Evil > Chapter companion for Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche. ## What happens A critique of the English as an unphilosophical race, examining their thinkers from Bacon to Carlyle, their reliance on Christianity for moral discipline, and their perceived lack of spiritual and aesthetic refinement, particularly in music and rhythm. ## Themes in this chapter ### Critique of Traditional Philosophy Direct attack on the English philosophical tradition (Bacon, Hobbes, Hume, Locke) for abasing and depreciating the idea of a philosopher. ### Critique of Modernity Analysis of English culture as coarse, unphilosophical, and using Christianity as a necessary moral antidote and form of spiritualization for a 'baser' people. ### The Role of Religion Examines English Christianity as a disciplinary tool for 'moralizing' and 'humanizing' a gloomy, sensual, and brutal people, and as a disguise for coarseness. ## Character check-ins ### Immanuel Kant Arose against the English philosopher Hume, positioning himself in opposition to the English depreciation of philosophy. ### David Hume Presented as a figure representing the abasement of the philosopher's idea, against whom Kant reacted. ### John Locke Despised by Schelling; cited as part of the English trend that lowered the concept of a philosopher. ### Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling Rightly said 'je méprise Locke', expressing contempt for the English philosophical tradition. ### Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel United with Schopenhauer and Goethe in struggling against the English 'mechanical stultification of the world'. ### Arthur Schopenhauer Along with Hegel and Goethe, opposed the English mechanistic worldview, despite being a 'hostile brother-genius' to Hegel. ### Thomas Carlyle The 'absurd muddlehead' who lacked real philosophy and tried to conceal it with passionate grimaces, exemplifying the English deficiency. ## Key lines > They are not a philosophical race⁠—the English: Bacon represents an attack on the philosophical spirit generally, Hobbes, Hume, and Locke, an abasement, and a depreciation of the idea of a 'philosopher' for more than a century. The English are inherently unphilosophical. Their major thinkers, from Bacon to Locke, degraded the very concept of philosophy. _Establishes the chapter's core thesis._ > What is lacking in England, and has always been lacking, that half-actor and rhetorician knew well enough, the absurd muddlehead, Carlyle, who sought to conceal under passionate grimaces what he knew about himself: namely, what was lacking in Carlyle⁠—real power of intellect, real depth of intellectual perception, in short, philosophy. Even a figure like Carlyle, who used dramatic rhetoric, was aware of his own lack—and by extension England's lack—of genuine philosophical depth and intellectual power. _Uses Carlyle as a case study for the national deficiency._ > It is characteristic of such an unphilosophical race to hold on firmly to Christianity⁠—they need its discipline for 'moralizing' and humanizing. Because they lack philosophy, the English cling to Christianity, which they require to impose morality and civility upon themselves. _Explains the functional, non-spiritual role of religion for the English._ > That, however, which offends even in the humanest Englishman is his lack of music, to speak figuratively (and also literally): he has neither rhythm nor dance in the movements of his soul and body... The ultimate flaw in even the best English person is a lack of 'music'—a fundamental absence of rhythm and grace in both spirit and physicality. _Extends the critique from intellect to aesthetics and embodied spirit._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/252 - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters