#Ubermensch

[american-boyboss]

[splooosh]

“savor”

Brian Murray

[izunias-meme-hole]

The Pinnacle of Mankind, The Ubermensch

Made myself a villain for my hero to face off against. (And one who's full of himself too!)

[nicklloydnow]

“When I thought of Jeremy and his talk about 'higher men' I wanted to laugh out loud. The life of the spirit was all very well—and Bach and Delius and Schopenhauer had been an incomparable enrichment to the world—but it was never supposed to be kept separate from the life of the body. Music and philosophy were like wine—they were intended to enhance the pleasure of being alive, not to replace it: What surprised me most was that I had starved my humanity for as long as I could remember, feeding it on a diet of ideas and mathematics—and yet I had not starved it to death, for here it was, as healthy as ever, revelling in the thought of Patricia's damp hand. The truth suddenly seemed very simple; life was supposed to be many-sided, and the happiest human being is he who succeeds in perceiving as many sides as possible. I had spent my whole life living with an error—that life is supposed to be dominated by one truth; and it had worried me that life has an aspect of violence as well as of order and reason. But the truth is that life has hundreds of aspects, and every philosophy represents only one of them.

And it was at that moment that I had my great idea; I still believe it is the most important idea that has ever come to me. If I thought about it for the next fifty years, I should not become aware of all its implications.

It was this. We take it for granted that a man can adjust his intellectual viewpoint as easily as he can adjust the range on a telescope. One day he can agree with Schopenhauer that the world is a death-trap and that the most sensible thing would be suicide, and the next day agree with Dr Pangloss that everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. He can take any one of a thousand points of view about life, from optimism to total pessimism. He can take up a dozen books in succession, from The Fifth Form at St Dominic's to The Brothers Karamazov, and see the world through the eyes of each author. We all take these intellectual quick-change acts for granted.

Why, in that case, does man accept his emotional states as somehow unchangeable? A man gets up early in the morning in a state of nervous tension, and feels depressed at the prospect of having to live through another day. Then he goes outside; it is a spring morning and the sun comes out; immediately he feels cheerful. His emotional climate has altered in a few seconds, yet he accepts this as a kind of natural accident, like the sun coming out—something beyond his control.

Admittedly, man knows a little about altering his emotions. If he likes music, then he will play a Tchaikovsky symphony when he feels a need for romantic emotion, Chopin when he feels melancholy, Wagner when he wants heroics, and so on. But he is still submitting himself to new experiences to change his emotions; he never asks himself why he should not have as much control over his emotions as over his ideas.

When I read what I have just written, I see that I have still not conveyed my central idea. Because I am not talking about mere emotional changes—from sadness to happiness, for example. We do not spend most of our lives in states of gloom or optimism or pity or excitement; we spend them in a state of emotional constipation—feeling nothing, or very little indeed. That is why the people in our office lived in such a state of dullness. They accepted this; they waited patiently for destiny to present them with some state of happiness or excitement. It never struck them that this state of emotional constipation was thoroughly unnatural—as unnatural as physical constipation.

It seemed to me that a person should be able to wake up and say: Now, how shall I feel this morning? Shall I wear my Tchaikovsky mood? Or my Bach mood? Or perhaps my Beethoven mood?' Obviously, certain moods would be unsuitable for a morning spent adding up figures, or doing the spring cleaning, or attending a parents' meeting at the school, just as a fur coat would be the wrong garment for a summer's day. If I woke up on a cold morning and found myself wearing a swimsuit, I would not feel bound to go to work in it. And yet we feel bound to accept the mood in which we wake up in the morning—or the complete lack of mood, which is more usual.

These ideas came to me as I sat in front of the fire, reading Vinogradoff; I still have the copy of Vinogradoff with the clean pages at the end (intended for calculations) covered with my handwriting. When I had written these ideas down, I remembered that I had promised to see Gerald Sutton, so I walked over. It was a clear cold night, and I looked at the sky and thought: Man is static because he has no reason to be anything else. No one teaches him any differently. Zoologists tell us that an animal takes three times as long to learn how to behave if it has no mother. Well, man has no mother and father; he is completely alone. One god, one god-like human being, would change the course of history by showing men how to behave . . . . ” - Colin Wilson, ‘The Violent World of Hugh Greene’ (1963) [p. 133 - 135]

[theaussieblue]

It's weird where Sonic The Hedgehog is heroic and goes out of his way to help people and save the day, and then there's this part of him that's really selfish where he does what he wants and not what other's want - that it's always his way or the highway.

He's cool and amazing and I love him, but weirdly enough I also kind of hate him. His selfishness, his brashness, his lack of planning, the fact that he doesn't join up with anyone and rarely sticks around. His enslavement to his desires and wants, where he saves the world because it's fun and he wants to - not because he thinks it's the right thing to do.

He's fascinating as a character, and something I've seen out of Japan more than a few times, like Goku, Naruto, and Edward Elric. People who go, "Screw society and it's rules, I'll do what I want, live things my way."

I dunno. Still sticking around and I love to watch him.

[jacquelinemerritt]

The Philosophy of Undertale

Originally posted December 1st, 2015

Fortuna, Will to Power, and DETERMINATION

So, if you haven’t played Undertale, this is part of the article where I join the hype train and tell you that you should. It’s a fun and relatively short role playing game that’s fantastically written, and it’s also one of the funniest games I’ve ever played. The greatness of Undertale goes beyond humor though; it also serves as a critique of the Machiavellian notion of conquering Fortuna and the Nietzchean Ubermensch.

Spoiler Alert: This article spoils all three of the three possible endings of the game, so if you haven’t played through them yet, you should probably do that first.

Now, before we dive into Undertale, let me refresh your memory on what that philosophical jargon means. In his writing, Machiavelli attempts to dismantle the ancient understanding of Fortuna, or the idea that humankind’s best efforts will always be limited by our circumstances. Machiavelli didn’t believe that Fortuna was something that people had to accept, and so he argued for the conquering of Fortuna through force, with The Prince being a guide for how a ruler is to overcome Fortuna.

At the core of Nietzchean philosophy is the concept of the “Ubermensch,” or the “Overman.” The Ubermensch is a man who exerts his will to power over all those around him, dominating them so that they serve his purposes. Nietzsche came up with the Ubermensch in response to Modernism’s failure to prove the existence of an objective morality, and conceptually, the Ubermensch represents the idea that in the absence of objective morality, all that matters is how much stronger one person’s “will to power” is compared to another’s (or to paraphrase Plato, justice becomes the advantage of the stronger).

Getting back to Undertale, Machiavelli’s concept of Fortuna is represented through the concept of DETERMINATION, which your character is filled with anytime they visit a save point in the game. You discover at the end of the Genocide route that DETERMINATION is what allows you to reset your timeline to your last save, and you have a conversation with Flowey, who used to be able to reset time in this way before your character came along. This ability to reset time is the ultimate method of conquering Fortuna, but the game shows the negative consequences of this ability when it tells us Flowey’s story.

Flowey was a flower injected with DETERMINATION by Alphys, the royal scientist, and it came to life after being injected. This flower contained part of Asriel’s soul, a monster who was the prince of the underground, and he was brought back to life as a sentient flower. Flowey was rejected by his mother and father, Toriel and Asgore, and his isolation led him into a deep depression, causing him to commit suicide.

But as Flowey neared the brink of death, he realized that he didn’t want to die, and then he reappeared back at the beginning of his life as a flower. He then realized that he could reset his own timeline by bringing himself to the brink of death, and after a while, he began to use his ability to manipulate people. His ability to completely conquer Fortuna led him to a state of moral depravity, and he lost the ability to see people as anything but tools for his personal gain.

The Nietzschean Ubermensch is also shown through DETERMINATION, as the ultimate realization of the Overman’s potential. Nietzsche’s Ubermensch was able to overcome most human limitations through his will to power, but even he couldn’t overcome death. DETERMINATION allows your character to persist beyond even death, and when combined with your character’s domination over the lives of the monsters on the Genocide route, your character becomes an Ubermensch beyond what Nietzsche could have believed possible.

Of course, this is not without its costs; at the end of the genocide route, it is revealed that your character has been playing into the schemes of another since the beginning. Their name is Chara, and ever since they died in the underground, they have been plotting their revenge. By going through the underground and killing every single monster, you help realize their scheme, and after destroying the underground, they are released.

Chara then confronts you with a question: do you want to destroy the entire world? Of course, if you tell Chara that you don’t want to destroy the world, they will reveal that you have long since forfeited that option. The only choice Chara leaves for you is the option to reset your timeline, and proceed through the underground once more, as Chara respects the strange sentimentality you hold towards the world. (Interestingly, even Chara, the embodiment of destruction, suggests that you take a different path, as it might be better for you).

DETERMINATION, and its associated will to power beyond death, has other negative effects as well, which are seen in the True Lab along the Pacifist route. In the true lab, you discover that Alphys has been performing experiments with DETERMINATION, injecting it into monsters so that they might persist beyond death as well.

In the lab, you see that DETERMINATION is actively harmful to a monsters being, causing them to physically melt, with some melting together to become Amalgamates. The monsters, who throughout the game are shown to be very kind and nonviolent, cannot exist alongside DETERMINATION, and in this way, Undertale makes its final critique of Nietzschean morality: the will to power is actively destructive towards kindness, generosity, and goodness, and it is impossible for these things to exist within Nietzsche’s amoral framework.

*Flowey/Asriel is able to survive containing DETERMINATION because of Asriel’s soul bonding with the flower that was injected. The flower’s physical form is stronger than a monster’s body, and so DETERMINATION will not destroy it.

[i-am-trans-gwender]

Transmasc Friedrich Nietzsche be like

Freda is dead

Freda remains dead

I have killed her

[blueheartbooks]

Embracing Nietzschean Philosophy: Exploring "Thus Spake Zarathustra"

Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" is a profound and provocative work that challenges conventional beliefs and invites readers to reexamine their values and assumptions about life, morality, and the human condition. Originally published in 1883, this philosophical masterpiece explores themes such as the death of God, the eternal recurrence, the will to power, and the Ubermensch (or "overman"), presenting Nietzsche's vision of a new way of thinking and living in the modern world.

At the heart of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is the character of Zarathustra, a fictionalized version of the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster, who descends from his mountain retreat to share his wisdom with humanity. Through a series of discourses, parables, and aphorisms, Zarathustra challenges his listeners to transcend their limitations, embrace their innermost desires, and strive for self-mastery and self-overcoming. Nietzsche's use of allegory and metaphor imbues the text with richness and depth, inviting readers to engage with its philosophical themes on multiple levels.

One of the most striking features of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is its lyrical and poetic style, which sets it apart from Nietzsche's more academic works. Translated by Thomas Common, the text retains much of its original beauty and power, capturing Nietzsche's philosophical insights with clarity and elegance. Common's translation allows readers to immerse themselves in Nietzsche's thought-provoking ideas and experience the full force of his rhetorical flourishes and linguistic innovations.

Moreover, "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is notable for its critique of traditional morality and religion, which Nietzsche argues have stifled human potential and constrained individual freedom. Through Zarathustra's teachings, Nietzsche advocates for a radical revaluation of all values, urging readers to embrace a more expansive and life-affirming ethos that celebrates creativity, authenticity, and self-expression. Nietzsche's rejection of conventional norms and his embrace of existential freedom continue to resonate with readers today, inspiring countless individuals to question authority and forge their own path in life.

In addition to its philosophical depth and literary merit, "Thus Spake Zarathustra" has had a profound impact on art, literature, and culture, influencing thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Friedrich Engels, as well as artists, musicians, and writers from around the world. Its themes of self-discovery, self-transcendence, and the pursuit of meaning continue to inspire and challenge readers to this day, making "Thus Spake Zarathustra" a timeless classic that speaks to the eternal quest for wisdom and self-realization.

In conclusion, "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" by Friedrich Nietzsche, translated by Thomas Common, is a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating work that continues to captivate readers with its profound insights, poetic language, and revolutionary ideas. Nietzsche's vision of the Ubermensch and his call to embrace the fullness of life remain as relevant today as they were when the book was first published, offering a powerful antidote to the nihilism and despair of the modern age.

Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" is available in Amazon in paperback 23.99$ and hardcover 29.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 471

Language: English

Rating: 11/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[blueheartbookclub]

Embracing Nietzschean Philosophy: Exploring "Thus Spake Zarathustra"

Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" is a profound and provocative work that challenges conventional beliefs and invites readers to reexamine their values and assumptions about life, morality, and the human condition. Originally published in 1883, this philosophical masterpiece explores themes such as the death of God, the eternal recurrence, the will to power, and the Ubermensch (or "overman"), presenting Nietzsche's vision of a new way of thinking and living in the modern world.

At the heart of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is the character of Zarathustra, a fictionalized version of the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster, who descends from his mountain retreat to share his wisdom with humanity. Through a series of discourses, parables, and aphorisms, Zarathustra challenges his listeners to transcend their limitations, embrace their innermost desires, and strive for self-mastery and self-overcoming. Nietzsche's use of allegory and metaphor imbues the text with richness and depth, inviting readers to engage with its philosophical themes on multiple levels.

One of the most striking features of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is its lyrical and poetic style, which sets it apart from Nietzsche's more academic works. Translated by Thomas Common, the text retains much of its original beauty and power, capturing Nietzsche's philosophical insights with clarity and elegance. Common's translation allows readers to immerse themselves in Nietzsche's thought-provoking ideas and experience the full force of his rhetorical flourishes and linguistic innovations.

Moreover, "Thus Spake Zarathustra" is notable for its critique of traditional morality and religion, which Nietzsche argues have stifled human potential and constrained individual freedom. Through Zarathustra's teachings, Nietzsche advocates for a radical revaluation of all values, urging readers to embrace a more expansive and life-affirming ethos that celebrates creativity, authenticity, and self-expression. Nietzsche's rejection of conventional norms and his embrace of existential freedom continue to resonate with readers today, inspiring countless individuals to question authority and forge their own path in life.

In addition to its philosophical depth and literary merit, "Thus Spake Zarathustra" has had a profound impact on art, literature, and culture, influencing thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Friedrich Engels, as well as artists, musicians, and writers from around the world. Its themes of self-discovery, self-transcendence, and the pursuit of meaning continue to inspire and challenge readers to this day, making "Thus Spake Zarathustra" a timeless classic that speaks to the eternal quest for wisdom and self-realization.

In conclusion, "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" by Friedrich Nietzsche, translated by Thomas Common, is a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating work that continues to captivate readers with its profound insights, poetic language, and revolutionary ideas. Nietzsche's vision of the Ubermensch and his call to embrace the fullness of life remain as relevant today as they were when the book was first published, offering a powerful antidote to the nihilism and despair of the modern age.

Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" is available in Amazon in paperback 23.99$ and hardcover 29.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 471

Language: English

Rating: 11/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[booksandteaandstuff]

“Yes, one can wager war in this world, ape love, torture one’s fellow man, or merely say evil of one’s neighbor while knitting. But, in certain cases, carrying on, merely continuing, is superhuman.”

Albert Camus, The Fall

https://bookshop.org/a/12010/9780679720225

[beliabc]

Machina and the Übermensch

For Ghost

[debarbat]

NIETZSCHE'S WARNING: Ubermensch vs Last Man

[marsmokii]

the uberdoggy also known as: my dog

[chal-s]

Today I celebrate being a human.

[ehj3]

THE LINE THEY FEED YOU

“Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Overman — a rope over an abyss.” — Friedrich Nietzsche This three-part image (with this two-part text) shows some predators, some prey, and someone trying to be neither. It seems to be getting worse for the last type, but maybe that’s not new, though. It sure seems like their habitats are shrinking, and worse, their means of survival—trust—is…