Nietzsche on the good of cultural change

This paper attributes to Nietzsche a theory of cultural development according which pyramid societies—steeply hierarchical societies following unified morality—systematically alternate with motley societies, emerge when encounter other cultures or allow their strict mores relax. Motley contain multiple value systems due individual innovation intercultural contact, and are less stringent in dictating individuals' roles. Consequently, many people torn between incompatible values lack direction, so they drawn morality mediocrity, offers the modest goals comfort conformity. However, need mediate conflicting also tends yield exceptional individuals who create new values, can reshape society into governed by those values. I argue that favors neither type at expense other, but believes alternation itself is valuable: develops system its full potential; then, it encounters alternative extraordinary resulting synthesize competing fuller vision human flourishing.