Nietzsche’s 12 Qualities of a Scholar

by | Philosophy

Nietzsche’s 12 Qualities of a Scholar:

  1. Probity and a sense for simplicity.
  2. Sharpsightedness for things close up; myopia for distant things.
  3. Sobriety and conventionality of nature.
  4. Poverty of feeling and aridity.
  5. Low self-esteem.
  6. Loyalty towards teachers and leaders.
  7. Routine continuation along the path on which the scholar has been pushed.
  8. Flight from boredom.
  9. The motive of breadwinning.
  10. Recognition by fellow scholars.
  11. The vanity of having a domain all to one’s self.
  12. The scholar for fun, amusement.

These 12 qualities (some good, some bad) are taken from Schopenhauer as Educator. .

How would this list, composed in the late 1800s, do if applied to the scholars (university professors) of today?

I suspect quite well.

No. 2 (Sharpsightedness for things close up; myopia for distant things) is probably much worse today than in the 1800s. and No. 4 (Poverty of feeling and aridity) is as strong as ever. No. 3 (Sobriety and conventionality of nature) has likely fallen by the wayside—at least as seen on social media—which I don’t necessarily see as a net good.

People—and scholars—haven’t changed all that much.