post<\/a>.<\/p>\nArt, is amazing in how it impacts us. Equally amazing is the arrogance of some artists. Have you ever encountered one who alludes, directly or indirectly, that if you don\u2019t understand their work you must be an idiot?<\/p>\n
I have, entirely too many times.<\/p>\n
In this instance, the artist I am referring to is Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche has an impressive ability to wrap ugly thoughts and superficial truths in stunningly beautiful words. Don\u2019t be fooled by the glory of the garments when the concepts they cover are reprehensible.<\/p>\n
And thus we arrive at my thoughts on Nietzsche\u2019s work, \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None<\/strong><\/em>\u201d. In this example of his work, Nietzsche takes the firm view that his readers are stupid. In fact, he blatantly states this in as many words with the challenge, \u201cwhoever is able to grasp me may grasp me! Your crutch, however, I am not.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d I do not consider my readers to be idiots, so I won\u2019t presume to simplify Nietzsche\u2019s words.\u00a0 As written, they speak loud and plain.<\/p>\nThe artistic tactic utilized, that if you need an explanation you\u2019re obviously not capable of true understanding, is clearly illustrated in the tale, \u201cThe Emperor’s New Clothes\u201d by Hans Christian Andersen.<\/p>\n
Since none of us likes thinking we lack the intelligence to grasp some arcane concept, we dig deep into the work in question in order to see what everyone else allegedly sees. And when we dig deep enough into anything, be it a piece of dung or a work of philosophy, we uncover new things, new understandings, new thoughts, and new revelations.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be fooled.<\/p>\n
What we\u2019ve just uncovered isn\u2019t in the thing being examined, it is from somewhere deep within ourself. We are all extraordinarily complex beings, capable of thoughts far beyond our wildest dreams. All we need do is look, and we will see.<\/p>\n
\u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d is just such a work. Yes, \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d is full of really beautiful words, artistically combined into eloquent, memorable sentences. However, the thoughts these so memorable sentences express are often repugnant. Examples of errant philosophy? \u201cAll that proceeds from power is good<\/em>\u201d, \u201cThe fleetest beast to bear you to perfection is suffering<\/em>\u201d, \u201cAll thy passions in the end become virtue, and thy devils angels<\/em>\u201d, along with innumerable others.<\/p>\nRepugnant as such sentiments are, the one I personally find utterly abhorrent is this, \u201cEvery one being allowed to learn to read, ruineth in the long run not only good writing but also thinking.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d Of those two elements, Nietzsche has completely mastered the art of good writing. Sadly, in regarding the second element, that of good thinking, \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d is an utter failure.<\/p>\nA further failure is in how often these memorable little sound bite sentences don’t have context with the other memorable little sounds bites so closely packed around them.\u00a0 At times this is so predominant as to render the work virtually incomprehensible.\u00a0 Naturally when this happens we find ourselves re-reading in order to find context that just isn’t there.\u00a0 The result of this re-reading is our learning much of it by rote.\u00a0 We can quote it, but we don’t actually understand it. {Of course, pretending<\/em> to understand makes us appear smarter than the person who blurts out, “The Emperor is naked!” Or does it?}<\/p>\nThroughout the work Nietzsche looks down his nose at humanity, and he makes no excuse for doing so. Nietzsche’s arrogance is illustrated in this line, \u201cYe look aloft when ye long for exaltation; and I look downward because I am exalted.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\nPerhaps if you look deep enough into this work you\u2019ll find Nietzsche is really saying the opposite of the things he writes. After all, Nietzsche isn\u2019t directly portraying himself as Zarathustra is he? Unfortunately, you\u2019re now looking so deep what you are actually seeing is the Emperor\u2019s new clothes, not the sickly, diseased flesh of the thoughts they conceal.<\/p>\n
My opinion of this work, like many of my thoughts, is conflicted. \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d is unquestionably a work of literature. The composition of individual thoughts is so elegant as to be breathtaking. The writing style is bold, powerful, and eloquent.\u00a0 For those reasons, every author can learn from this work.<\/p>\n
And then there is my conflicted view…<\/p>\n
Please don\u2019t read \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d with eyes, heart, and mind wide open as you seek deep, hidden truths. Save such mental and emotional energy for philosophical works that warrant it. Considered as a work of philosophy, \u201cThus Spake Zarathustra\u201d is simply not worth your time.<\/p>\n
I believe we all search for truth, and we all have an unquenchable thirst for meaning. But know this\u2026 that meaning does not dwell in arcane works. No, that meaning dwells within your own heart, and it is there that you should seek it.<\/p>\n
{PS. While you’re here, please browse around. I label my own work, Malmaxa<\/a>, as “Philosophy, couched as Fantasy.<\/em><\/strong>”\u00a0 However, please do not compare it with Nietzsche, I fear you will do us both a great disservice.}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thus Spake Zarathustra, by Friedrich Nietzsche. A review for all, and for none. I make no differentiation between authors and artists. To me a skilled author is an artist. Their words capture our minds, then force us to pay the ransom with our hearts. However, what art is is not the subject of this post, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[166,285,314,315,420,468],"class_list":["post-3933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-friedrich-nietzsche","tag-nietzsche","tag-philosophy","tag-philosophy-couched-as-fantasy","tag-thus-spake-zarathustra","tag-zarathustra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3933\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cgayling.com\/malmaxa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}