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The “will to power” is a magnificent concept anyone will find within the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. It refers to the innate drive that plays a crucial role in the species being of all living things. Life seeks to assert itself, to overcome obstacles, and to increase its strength and ability to affect the world around it. Nietzsche believed that this drive is the fundamental motivating force behind human behaviour, and that it is the source of all creativity, productivity, and achievement. He also believed that the will to power is in constant conflict with other forces, such as morality and tradition, which can stifle or inhibit its expression by suppressing the individual’s desire for self-overcoming and self-transcendence.
Without an outlet for our will to power, our potential for growth is stifled. In life we need things to overcome, to achieve and to create. Nietzsche famously said in ‘On the Genealogy of Morality’ that: man would rather will nothingness than not will. We can’t just sit there watching paint dry, but we must affirm our life in some way by doing something. Even a Buddhist monk in full lotus position meditating for over 4 hours in the same place is still expressing the will to power, because he is working towards achieving transcendence and overcoming worldly attachments.
From a biological perspective, the will to power can be seen as an expression of the innate drive to survive and reproduce. All living organisms have the ability to acquire resources, grow, and reproduce, which increases their chances of survival and the survival of their offspring. This is an expression of the will to power in the sense that the organism is exerting its influence over its environment in order to increase its strength and chances of survival. Organisms that are able to adapt to their environment by changing their behaviour, physiology or genetics will have a higher chance of survival than those that cannot.
We’ve established that the will to power is common to all sentient beings, but is also closely related to the philosophy of existentialism, because existentialism emphasizes the idea that individuals have the freedom and responsibility to create their own meaning in life. This idea is closely related to Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power, as it also emphasizes the individual’s ability to overcome limitations and achieve their full potential. The will to power is not some far removed concept confined to the bookshelves of academics, but is a dynamic concept very much near to home that’s expressed all the time in our modern life.
And what would be an example of this in our modern life? How many times have we seen people determined to succeed in their careers? Look at how they have a strong desire to climb the corporate ladder, to be recognized and respected by their peers, and to gain greater control over their work environment. They sacrifice by working long hours, take on difficult projects, and make additional sacrifices in their personal lives in order to achieve the goals they set out to do. This drive to assert themselves and increase their power in the world or work is an expression of the will to power.
The athlete, who trains by pushing his body to its physical limits so that he can compete better against other rival athletes. His drive to strengthen his body is a means to achieving first place and winning that trophy. In creating art the artist demonstrates his drive to push boundaries and create something new and unique like new forms of visual complexity. In this way is how he achieves success in his field.
Without understanding this core concept of the will to power, we will not get very far. Because this concept is key to understanding Nietzsche’s overall philosophy and his views on the human condition.
“The world itself is the will to power – and nothing else! And you yourself are the will to power – and nothing else!” —Nietzsche
