Thus Spoke Zarathustra · Chapter
LXXV: Science explained
The magician's song entrances the higher men, but the conscientious in spirit resists, snatching the harp and accusing the magician of seduction and deceit.
What happens
The magician's song entrances the higher men, but the conscientious in spirit resists, snatching the harp and accusing the magician of seduction and deceit. He argues that fear is the origin of all human virtue and science, while Zarathustra counters that courage, not fear, is the true foundation of human history. The higher men laugh in unison, and the magician reconciles, predicting Zarathustra will again love him. Zarathustra then feels a longing for the open air and his animals.
Themes in this chapter
Critique of Herd Morality
The conscientious one's view that fear drives virtue and science is challenged by Zarathustra's emphasis on courage, rejecting a fear-based herd morality.
Will to Power and Creation
Zarathustra's revaluation of fear into courage exemplifies the creative will to power, transforming ancient instincts into spiritual and intellectual virtues.
Characters to notice
- The Magician
Sings a song that entrances the higher men; later defends his art and reconciles with Zarathustra.
- The Conscientious in Spirit
Resists the magician's spell, denounces him as a seducer, and argues that fear is the root of science and virtue.
- Zarathustra
Returns to the cave, throws roses to the conscientious one, and counters his view by asserting that courage is the primitive history of man.
- The Higher Men
Are entranced by the magician's song and later applaud his remarks, laughing together with Zarathustra.
Key passages
“For fear—that is man’s original and fundamental feeling; through fear everything is explained, original sin and original virtue. Through fear there grew also my virtue, that is to say: Science.”
Fear is the primal human emotion, from which all morality and even science originate.
The conscientious one defines science as a refined form of fear.
“For fear—is an exception with us. Courage, however, and adventure, and delight in the uncertain, in the unattempted—courage seemeth to me the entire primitive history of man.”
Fear is rare for us; courage and the love of risk are what truly define human history.
Zarathustra inverts the conscientious one's claim, asserting courage as the foundation.