Nietzsche particularly said that we should all strive to be the best versions of ourselves, something he called “uber-mensch” an idea, which I believe was hijacked by Nazis.
He was a nihilist, but he also urged everyone to create their own values and follow it to be the best you can be. But, then he was also a disgusting sexist. People are complicated.
“uber-mensch” an idea, which I believe was hijacked by Nazis
He had a nazi sister who after his hijacked his ideas to gain nazi streetcred
His quote “God is dead” is supposed to indicate the genesis of nihilism.
Without a higher purpose, we fall into a belief that our lives are worthless.
However, we can find our own “god”, whether that be helping others, mastery of a skill, or finding contentment.
There are plenty of things to find value in, just because Nietzsche had a complete breakdown in the pursuit, doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
When I make the decision to stare at my phone while crossing the street, I may be a hypocrite, but it doesn’t make “look both ways before crossing” bad advice.
Nietzsche’s philosophy had a lot in common with Camus’s, the main difference being that Camus framed his ideas in a very “Pop!” and relatively hedonistic way (of the times, not necessarily his doing).
They both essentially focus on the absence of meaning and its tangible effects on the human psyche, while encouraging the individual to persevere in Individuating in spite of there being no pre-defined purpose for doing it - do the growth for growth’s sake, for your own soul’s sake, if you will.
Imo, they also differ in the fact that, I feel, Nietzsche somewhat hinted at the human being taking up the reins of the God it killed, becoming godly unto itself. I don’t think this came out of a sense of superiority, rather that he felt we had a responsibility to pick up the works of the God we killed. (edit:) Which upon further consideration, may actually be born of a sense of superiority after all, in that we can totally pick up the divine reins, no sweat!
Camus just wanted us all to be Promethean offshoots, laughing our asses off in the face of God/absence of God* and doing our own shit.
"And I, too, felt ready to start life all over again. It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe.” this quote by Camus in “The Stranger” always get me. Points out the absurdism of searching for a meaning in this vast, complex and more importantly indifferent universe.
Of course, Nietzsche felt different. He thought we still had an obligation to do great.
To me personally, taoism seems to provide a happy middle ground. Do what you can, try what you want. In the end success or failure brings some pros and some cons. Life is all about navigating the water current. Sometimes, you take control and other times you let the water carry you. It is all about knowing when to do either.
This is exactly why Existentialism is fascinating to me, the question always stays the same, but the answers are as varied as the people who are offering them. Which pretty much leads to the conclusion that THE answer to “what now” is “learn what floats your boat then keep it sailing.”
he was also a disgusting sexist
The overall depth of your comment warrant a request for sources…
Why? Who cares? It was like over 100 years ago at this point and like basically everyone was bigoted 100 years ago lmao.
Edit: also just like google stuff, it’s not like it’s modern day shit where tons of propaganda and straight disinformation and misinformation make finding this stuff impossible.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Nietzsche's_views_on_women
This is true. My running theory, the shit man theory, is that if you take a famous person from the past they’re most likely a shithead. For example;
Mahatma Gandhi was a nazi-loving racist who would gather young and underaged apprentices with whom he’d sleep naked to prove how virtuous he was by not raping them.
Mother Theresa didn’t pay her workers, withheld medical attention on the grounds that if they took people to proper medical facilities they’d not use hers, re-used needles and knowingly spreading infectious diseases (like HIV), would purposefully make people suffer because suffering is godly.
Teenagers hardly know who Nietzsche was, let alone claim his work to justify anything. The few who do know about him are not the ones living hedonistically.
I blame Elisabeth
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1691–1750), Holy Roman Empress by marriage to Charles VI?
there can be a pursuit of happiness in spite of the collapse of religion
More like, thanks to the collapse. (And also if the economy were more social and people less far right!)
Huh!
