Introduction
Nietzsche’s “Only to Human” was his first in the aphoristic style after he retired as a professor from Basil University due to ill health.
Although it pre dates the emergence of his “will to power”
and his later vigour against morality (Genealogy of Morals) those
early seeds of thought are already evident.
Overview
Herein
in the aphorisms we observe his contempt for societal views based on absolute
truths arising from convictions.
Rather, Nietzsche believed truth
(with a small t) depends upon whichever interpretation prevails at a given time
which is a function of power. Page 45 - "What Nietzsche Really
Said" - Solomon /Higgins.
The appearance of a postmodernist view is negated by his
quest (never realised since his mental breakdown precluded this
project) to create human values in respect of the
inescapable sense of self. He also concurred with the aims of the
empiricists and adopted a western style in his philosophy.
He saw history as bedevilled by
abstract delusional religious convictions which could be overcome by a new
civilization (redemption if you will) emerging via the superman – “The Übermensch”.
But he never outlined the new values
that would subsequently emerge to support such a
vision
Discussion Topic: Belief
and Conviction: Good or Bad?
Affirmative
Nietzsche’s
philosophy represents a narrative expressing his conviction of the foolishness
one can covet or know absolute truth.
To
embark on such a quest he believed is illusory, a view that has wide acceptance
today as it brings with it the risk of unnecessary irrational suffering if one
clings to childlike abstract ideas linked to an unhealthy devotion to a cause-
whether religious or secular.
Doubtful
In
respect to Nietzsche that opposition to abstract values and
childlike belief belonged to Christianity -but not to Christ, who he
believed was the only true Christian.
The
problem with this assertion is that alternative ideologies could just as
easily arise with similar adverse outcomes to the inquisition.
Quotes out of context and conflation
I believe it because it is absurd- credo quia absurdum est” as the standard of
extreme fanaticism.
It
is not the struggle of opinions that has made history so turbulent; but the
struggle of belief in opinions,—that is to say, of convictions.
Note
his use of this quote is out of context and the phrase ……but the
struggle of belief in opinions is a conflation of two
different things.
An opinion is a judgment based on
facts in attempting to draw a reasonable conclusion from factual evidence
whereas a belief is a conviction based on cultural or personal faith,
morality, or values.
Although one gets the gist of what
Nietzsche is trying to say in fact you wouldn’t usually conflate a belief with
opinions – since strictly speaking opinions are not beliefs.
Determine what is/are the conclusion of this writing, i.e.
what is he asserting is the case?
In a nutshell Nietzsche is asserting:
The disastrous societal belief that one can ascertain
absolute truth has led to untold suffering and strife.
The
fanatical adoption of abstract beliefs and sacrificial undertakings based or
promises of an after- life risks overriding rational thought. The yield of catastrophic results such as was
the case in the Inquisition.
The unnecessary suffering that has occurred could have
been avoided if such beliefs were substituted by a will to investigate what was
right as per the scientific inquiry method.
Then work out what are the supporting arguments (premises)
for the conclusion(s) and what is mere rhetoric or polemic.
A valid argument is made against the idea we can ascertain
absolute truth.
The subsequent arguments against societal views based on
opinions and matters of faith or belief are polemic or a narrative.
A weakness is he makes no allowance for secular outcomes
to yield the same disastrous results as the childlike religious ones.
And finally whether you agree with him or not and
why; how does it relate to past and present day issues of belief and conviction
in our world and the actions they inspire...
Mostly
I believe he is on the right track given our propensity to hold strong convictions
about things which have alternate views in that context.
In
a number of respects he provides a precursor to post modernism which has
influenced the way we view the world to provide a brake on fundamentalist type
religious thinking.
A
catalyst for one to think about our values and the often subjective manner they
arise.
How does it relate to your belief system?
I don’t think he influences my belief
system to any great extent since I don’t knowingly subscribe to any of the
excesses he rallied against.
Nietzsche
wanted to reclaim that divine element he saw as a potential in humanity so he
was totally devoted to the here and now. That’s an important lesson.
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