Heidegger: what philosophy is good for

It is entirely correct and completely in order to say, “You can’t do anything with philosophy.” The only mistake is to believe that with this, the judgment concerning philosophy is at an end. For a little epilogue arises in the form of a counterquestion: even if we can’t do anything with it, may not philosophy in the end do something with us, provided that we engage ourselves with it?

–From Introduction to Metaphysics

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Nietzsche: The Anti-Christ

My feeble attempt at existential understanding:

Question: What is Nietzsche criticizing when he targets “Christianity” in The Anti-Christ? Is his criticism on target?

The central reason why Nietzsche criticizes Christianity is because he sees it as the source of the slave morality that has reigned supreme in Europe for two thousand years. He sees it as the reason for why the “higher” type of man has fallen and ultimately been excommunicated. The higher man was one who followed his instincts, praised the passions, lived and enjoyed life on this earth, and emphasized his will to power. But Christianity, for Nietzsche, does the opposite. It subdues the instincts and the passions. It lives for another world. And it emphasizes pity and sympathy rather than power. And “what is more harmful than any vice? – Active sympathy for the ill-constituted and weak – Christianity” (487).

To sum up his condemnation of Christianity he states, “I bring against the Christian Church the most terrible charge any prosecutor has ever uttered…The Christian Church has left nothing untouched by its depravity, it has made of every value a disvalue, of every truth a lie, of every kind of integrity a vileness of soul” (498). In other words, it has reversed master-noble morality into slave-resentment morality.

But Nietzsche’s critique only makes sense if there was once a time when master morality and the higher man reigned supreme. He thinks exactly this: the Greeks and the Romans and even the Muslims had achieved the greatness that Nietzsche is after. But the Christians did away with such cultures: “Christianity robbed us of the harvest of the culture of the ancient world, it later went on to rob us of the harvest of the culture of Islam” (497). For Nietzsche, this is the greatest historical travesty to have ever occurred.

Historically speaking, I think Nietzsche is probably correct in many ways. Morality does seem to have made a major shift upon Christianity spreading and ultimately coming to power. Of course, slave morality was probably existent prior to Christianity, but it may not have become so widespread until Christianity became widespread. Also, I think Nietzsche is right in that many Christians throughout history have sought after another world as well as rejected the passions. But while this might be true of many Christians, I do not think it is true of all. Personally, I think Christianity can be very much about living in this world and enjoying life now. Many Christians do not seem to understand this. I think Nietzsche was right: “The ‘kingdom of God’ is not something one waits for; it has no yesterday or tomorrow, it does not come ‘in a thousand years’ – it is an experience within the heart; it is everywhere, it is nowhere” (493). The Kingdom of God is here now.

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QotD: The Three Things I Wish I Could Do

What three things do you regret not learning to do?

How about just my three greatest regrets period:

1) Not pursuing competitive baseball longer.

2) Not majoring in something practical, like business. Instead, philosophy? What. The. Fuck?

3) Not telling every girl that I ever thought was pretty, that she was pretty.

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QotD: The Day I’d Re-Live

If could re-live one day of your life, which day would you choose?

I would probably have to choose that one day where I slapped you in the face for asking me this question.

Actually, probably one of those wonderful summers days I had as a child. No day in specific, just one of the good ones. Back when the world was full of magic and wonder. Back when I could feel the breeze instead of thinking about myself feeling the breeze. Back when my mind was free. Back before extreme self-consciousness kicked in.

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Metaphysical Epigrams

The most outlandish thing ever proposed is that physical states could produce mental states. And yet I think it’s probably true.

It becomes mind-numbing when you realize that all ideas, conceptions, thoughts, and theories about the world ultimately rest on a non-analyzable subjective basis. Even our ideas concerning our own mind must be viewed behind the lens of our own mind. Talk about skeptical darkness.

Did you know that there are quite a few respectable philosophers who believe that the past is still just as real as the present? That the year 1950 or the year 950 is real but separated from us in time in much the same way Paris is real but separated from us in space? How bizarre is that?

One does not need quantum physics to be convinced that the world is inherently mysterious. One need only to contemplate his or her own existence.

Do you think it is possible that other intelligent creatures could answer metaphysical questions better than we can? Or are such questions, by their very nature, beyond the capabilities of any logically possible being?

Have you ever thought about yourself thinking about yourself thinking about yourself thinking about yourself…How long did the process go on until your mind began to gag?

What would it be like to be a mind without a body? I think it would be like floating in an abyss. Would that not be the most gruesome hell ever imagined?  Let’s hope God has something else in mind.

When it’s all said and done, don’t you just want to be dancing in love amongst the stars?

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Songs about love…and sex.

I have to admit that I am a sucker for a good, romantic, sweet, classy, love song (think something like Elvis and “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”) But I also have to admit that my favorite songs (lyrically speaking) are probably ones that mix some lovin and some sexin. And, well, DMB is a master at making songs lustfully steamy. But not just lustfully steamy but romantic as well. Here is one of my favorites for its beautifully poetic dirty lyrics and for its musical complexity, including its absurd rhythms (5/4 to 4/4 to 6/8 or something like that).

Dave Matthews Band – Rapunzel (Live In Chicago)

Ha, Open wide
Oh so good I’ll eat you
Take me for a ride
In your sweet delicious
Perfect little mouth
Thereupon I linger
You will have no doubt
I’ll do my best for you, I do

Let’s stop to get it going
Lost myself just thinking
About the two of us
From each other drinking
Begin with the lips
Fingertips and kissing
Turn me inside out
I do my best for you

Up and down we go
From the top you push me
This is such a thrill
Lost in love and dancing
Shake your tambourine
You blow my head open
Of this there’s no doubt
I do my best for you I do

For you I would crawl
Through the darkest dungeon
Climb the castle wall
If you are my Rapunzel
You let your hair down
Right in through your window
Good they locked the door
I do my best for you

I think the world of you
All of my heart I do
Blood through my veins for you
You alone have all of me
I give my world to you
To you I will be true

Too good to be real
Smell of something cooking
My soul you’re to steal
Food of love we’re filling
What you’ve given me
For it there is no measure
Of one thing I am sure
I’ll give my best for you

I think the world of you
All of my heart I do
Blood through my veins for you
You alone have all of me
From you my strength is full
To carry your burdens too
I give my world to you

Hip lock up so tight
You drive me crazy
Crazy is all right
With you looking at me
You make me feel high
Every single thing you do to me
Is like I’m drunk/fucked
I do my best for you, I do

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QotD: If I could live anywhere in the world…

If you could live anywhere in the world (fictional or real), where would it be?

The Shire, definitely the Shire. Maybe Rivendell too. Maybe Minis Tirith. Most certainly Middle Earth. Somewhere where magic and mystery roam free in every open field and secret corner.

Of course, as a wise man once said, "Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters."

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