Who here has read Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche?

[oldchiefer]

i would like to hear some legitimate thoughts on the basic ideology behind the writing....

i was super intrigued by all the flaws of mankind. what a hell of a delivery system for such content!


also, has anyone here ever heard of Wilhelm Reich? He wrote a book called Character Analysis that i read while in prison. He pretty much reshaped modern psychology with that book. It was a hard ass read but I learned a lot about. Definitely a guy you guys should look up....

 

[tyler.durden]

I read Zarathustra in my 20s, along with many other works of Nietzsche. I haven't read any Wilhelm Reich. IIRC, the book was about an idea that we're not finished evolving, and the next major (or final) evolution of man was the Uberman. It is noble for us imperfect stepping stone humans to 'go under' to make room for the Uberman. Even the English translation that I read didn't lose much of the original German wit, it was so amusing. Of course, every version of a species is going to fight for its own survival and not quietly or nobly get ready for, or even recognize, it's coming superior version. What were your ideas about the book?

 

[NietzscheKeen]

I've read it for sure, lol. It's my Bible.
Nietzsche gets a bad rap (or is it rep) sometimes and I think it's due to his writing style. He typically did not set out his premises and argue his conclusion, he just told it as he saw it. I have three translations of it...

Anyway, it would be hard to just start writing as Zarathustra covered so many aspects of life and is rather ambiguous in nature; I enjoy the metaphoric style he uses. If I had to sum it up, it's basically, don't waste your time with lesser people, be the best person you can be, hold yourself to a very high standard, be in control of yourself, etc.

One thing that I think about when meditating on it is this: I don't believe in free will and from many of his books and letters, I get them impression that he was a determinist in most cases. When I think of the overman, I think of one reaching a state of free will as far as the mind goes; not simply reacting to stimuli. The overman will still have no control over cosmic forces, etc. but he can at least make his own choices... It's hard to explain. It's much like someone having complete self control over every aspect of their psychology and personality.

If you have any other questions or this didn't make any sense, please let me know.

 

[Zaehet Strife]

I really enjoy reading about Nietzsche, although i have never read that book. If you are interested in learning more about him and his life you should watch this documentary, it's made in a way that keeps you interested the whole time. Very good watch, check it out if you want!

[video=youtube;3EGOwduWVKA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EGOwduWVKA[/video]

 

[NietzscheKeen]

Great documentary, I wish there were more documentaries on him... and Schopenhauer for that matter since he was a big influence on Nietzsche.

 

[Dr Kynes]

I've read it for sure, lol. It's my Bible.
Nietzsche gets a bad rap (or is it rep) sometimes and I think it's due to his writing style. He typically did not set out his premises and argue his conclusion, he just told it as he saw it. I have three translations of it...

Anyway, it would be hard to just start writing as Zarathustra covered so many aspects of life and is rather ambiguous in nature; I enjoy the metaphoric style he uses. If I had to sum it up, it's basically, don't waste your time with lesser people, be the best person you can be, hold yourself to a very high standard, be in control of yourself, etc.

One thing that I think about when meditating on it is this: I don't believe in free will and from many of his books and letters, I get them impression that he was a determinist in most cases. When I think of the overman, I think of one reaching a state of free will as far as the mind goes; not simply reacting to stimuli. The overman will still have no control over cosmic forces, etc. but he can at least make his own choices... It's hard to explain. It's much like someone having complete self control over every aspect of their psychology and personality.

If you have any other questions or this didn't make any sense, please let me know.

best alien menace EVER!

 

[abandonconflict]

To transcend humanity is no new ideal, having been the goal of nearly all religious traditions. I find the naivety of egoism repulsive, particularly in the motive to explain away morality as somehow evil. It is a phase of those who are newly disillusioned of what ever indoctrination they had endured. In Nietzsche's case, it was Christianity. He never grew out of this phase and remained subjectively pessimistic until he died of syphilis, a mad man.