Nietzsche and the Roots of Morality: Is Christianity a Slave Morality?

What if the moral values we hold most dear—humility, compassion, obedience—were not timeless truths but the product of a historical struggle for power?

In On the Genealogy of Morals, Friedrich Nietzsche offers a provocative account of how Christian morality emerged not as an expression of virtue but as a reaction by the weak against the strong.

This session invites thoughtful discussion on Nietzsche’s concept of “slave morality,” examining its critique of Christianity and its enduring relevance in modern moral thought.

Open to all with an interest in philosophy, ethics, or intellectual history, we’ll explore whether Nietzsche’s radical genealogy still speaks to the moral frameworks that shape our world today.

The philosophy cafe returns, this time at the Square Pig in Holborn. We will have a room to ourselves.

Every meeting will have a specific topic. We will start with a 10 min introductory talk. Members will then vote on what questions to ask, and the top questions will then be discussed in small groups.

After the small group discussion the groups report back to all, and we share the insights of the small groups.