Nihilism and the ascetic ideal: on the value of asceticism in Nietzschean genealogy

I investigate in this article the connection of nihilism with the ascetic ideal in the third essay of the Genealogy of Morals . In this essay, Nietzsche contrasts the genuine Philosopher with the ascetic priest, in order to open space for his affirmative philosophical-artistic intentions. While the ascetic priest radicalizes moral nihilism, the authentic Philosopher develops ascetic forms of life to provide the conditions for his creative work. I ask, finally, whether the “Philosopher” is able to overcome the nihilistic crisis of values and the physiological deca- dence of man. Keywords : nihilism, ascetic ideal, value, Philosopher.