Thus Spoke Zarathustra
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"Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is widely considered to be Nietzsche’s magnum opus. He borrowed heavily from the King James Version of the Bible (with the deliberate intent of satirizing its lofty language and obscure metaphor though I think he far exceeded that objective and actually produced some of the most beautiful imagery in literature and philosophy combined – quite a success given the rich imagery and beauty of the language employed in the King James Bible itself). The book’s philosophical objective is to “overcome” (more on that below) the concept of a morality grounded in the terms ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ which Nietzsche attributed (through his methodology of “genealogy” – the application of cultural and psychological history to explain the origins of moral systems as opposed to what some philosophers have called a Grand Meta-Narrative – a teleology or unifying story that asserts an origin, end-goal, and purpose to life and humanity) to Zarathustra – the prophet who inspired Zoroastrianism, a major religion (that exists to this day) that presaged and influenced Christianity. Every German soldier in the First World War (not the Second) marched off to fight the Allies with a copy of this book in their knapsack.
Nietzsche theorized that once humanity has realized that “God is Dead” (more on this below) and more importantly that all human systems are nothing more than elaborately constructed fantasy-driven “otherworldly hopes” (stories that people tell) that exist as means for people to escape from dealing with life in its raw, unfettered, nature (stressing nature here which we think of as amoral [neither moral nor immoral], evolving, and purposeless – he borrowed heavily from a close interpretation of Darwin who was beginning to gain traction at that time), humanity will fall into despair, nihilism, and meaninglessness. The concept of the Overhuman was conceived as means by which to give people a sense of purpose consistent with a Darwinian world-view which he believed to be correct. Here we detect (read: outright declare) themes of Transhumanism and Posthumanism. Nietzsche also introduces the concept of the Last Man –
In this snippet, Zarathustra reveals that goal for humanity and is mocked by the townsfolk he bombastically proclaims this vision to (Zarathustra’s overcoming is partly an inner spiritual journey of greater understanding and wisdom as he comes to terms with both his relationship to humanity and the “Death of God” itself)
Open questions: suppose the world has no intrinsic value, no purpose or direction, no great ending that we’re destined to reach. What values do we create in that absence? Who gets to decide them? Is the Last Man so bad? Are the binary constructs of Overhuman and Last Man legitimate? Which would you prefer (to be or to bring about)? Why is the fable intentionally constructed this way?
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In The Seventh Seal, it's only the fools who survive the knight of faith's game with death, Shakespeare managed to only be vexed at the conclusion of the Tempest, my personal stance is that to find moments of awe (truly unique and beautiful experiences) by means of art and love is about the only way one can live (even if they know it is an illusion they cast themselves). It's not bliss (per se) but a powerful impression that shows the uber in effect--perhaps scope of power would work as a term, though I want it to reflect a testing of limits rather than the master/slave paradigm of raw politics and sexuality.
Awe and an appreciation of beauty are truly essential to live well and gain inner strength (and outer strength). It's one of the little discussed but essential components to being truly happy (joy) rather than mere momentary happiness.
Ode to Joy isn't what I'm expressing here. Any intelligence will seek to know its bounds--some more safely than others. I imagine this is why many retract as they move forward in life to a permanent state of limit--now artificial means (even music, art, literature) will push this limit further and further--though there are limits here, and most are language based (this being the poet's job to break these musical programming chords and by means of shock therapy, burst the reader/hearer onto a new plane of Deluezian rhizome consciousness--see Nick Land)...any way
Limits are useful but usually advance or progress to some higher state. I'd totally agree that there are several crosswinds/headwinds pushing some boundaries forward, breaking others. People grow static, they lose interest in pushing their own self. But there's always an option to change that. Ode to Joy? Great song but not what I was referring to. A sense of Awe was essential to apprehending the concept of the Absolute...