The Last Man, Friedrich Nietzsche
Character Exposition of The "Last Man" from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
In his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche was extremely critical of the undirected and frivolous use of human potential. He argued that without a goal, the mediocre values of man would lead to the "last man" (der letzte Mensch).
Zarathustra Goes Down
Zarathustra tries to warn the people in the market against the danger of the "last man" (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, prologue, §5). Here, Nietzsche describes the undirected outcome of mankind as an inherently apathetic, gentle and social creature who indulges in work only as entertainment, who lives a long life and suffers only minimal conflict; the "last man."
The "Last Man" According to Nietzsche
The "last man" is articulated as being terminally mediocre; his tastes, actions and ambitions are limited, safe and inoffensive. He is not apocalyptic character, but rather one of an innumerable multitude. He uses the potential of man to achieve quiet comfort and safety.
Compared to the notion of the "over man" (das Übermensch'), who is the embodiment of super-human creativity, the "last man" is, for Nietzsche and Zarathustra alike, the "most contemptible man."
Society of the "Last Man"
The "last man" lives in a comfortable, safe, egalitarian and happy society comprised of other last men. It is egalitarian not out of mutual respect, but rather out of mutual apathy and distaste for the burden of rule.
The society of last men epitomizes the destruction of difference between men: anyone with socially unacceptable thoughts voluntarily commits themselves to the asylum. Similarly, all conflict is quickly resolved in order to avoid actual or theoretical indigestion.
The Risk of Order
By virtue of being a creature that has no "chaos" within him and no ability for creativity or change, the "last man" is a stagnant conclusion of humanity.
His society, which has "a little poison... that produces pleasant dreams," according to Nietzsche, is utterly comfortable and satisfied, but only in the slightest sense. Without any hardship and without any strong individuals or groups, Nietzsche argues that humanity will loose its potential to overcome itself.
Is the "Last Man" Utopic?
Naïvely, Zarathustra discovers with surprise that the "last man" is an attractive end for the people of the market. A few years after Nietzsche's death, restrictive Socialist ideology in Russia was justified by the promise of Communism, a system arguably identical to the utopian society of the "last man."
The Failed State Index suggests that society seeks the "last man" in western cultures as well; nations displaying social equality and no social dissent are considered progressive and successful.
Nietzsche's Contempt for the Egalitarian
Nietzsche's has great contempt for egalitarianism, which he argues is a value that makes humanity small. The egalitarian values the lowest common denominator between men rather than the greatness in individual men. Thus egalitarianism creates a social ceiling that nullifies true conflict and hence halts humanity's ability to become something more, to overcome itself or be great.
For Nietzsche, man can overcome his mediocre humanity when he aspires towards the "over man."
Sources:
Nietzsche, Friedrich, Thus Spake Zarathustra, tr. Hollingdale, R.J., Penguin Books, New York, 1961.
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882
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