Unfortunately, Nietzsche also had some truly destructive and nonsensical ideas which would have driven anyone to utter despair - and they did, and eventually he killed himself as a result of them. I am therefore very wary around what he says, even if there are a few things that seem helpful.
That said, he seems to have been a humane person, but driven mad - which appears to have arisen out of his attempted response to some truly horrible religious ideas foisted on him when young.
Yes, we should be doing more of that. It was just meant as a word of caution to consider, as you think about them, where ideas may lead. (Having said that, I think truth should be pursued regardless of the consequences.)
A helpful philosopher is one you can understand in depth, adopt what you find useful, refute what you disagree with, and when you read their work, derive value from wearing their mask to face the world for a brief try.
Nietzsche did not kill himself. He did not die from his ideas. If you’re going to say his ideas are destructive you should mention which ones you disagree with.
Would love to hear more about your critique of his “nonsensical ideas”. 😁
Oftentimes Nietzsche is called the first modern psychologist: I have a long academic background in mental health to tell he was (I learned this from Carl G. Jung, though). Like Freud in and from psychoanalysis, Nietzsche was a harsh critic of western culture and civilization because he saw its fundamental flaw: Nihilism. Currently, nihilism, as the denial of the material world, is at worst: Two out of ten people worldwide (mostly in the West) believe that politically defeating Russia is worth a nuclear war. There is no reasoning with them because nihilism is intrinsic to the West's philosophy and religion, Christianity, which Nietzsche particularly detested. Thus it is just not true that Nietzsche was a nihilist. Personally, there are two fundamental concepts to Nietzsche's philosophy I love, one of which I understand very well, this is his "transvaluation of values." The other, however, I can only basically grasp: That things, the phenomenological world, shine on the surface. I do understand that the latter Nietzsche conceived against Plato's idealism, which however Kant himself had partially opposed by deconstructing Materialism without destroying it. Perhaps Nietzsche did not want to go as deep as Kant precisely because he saw himself as a modern psychologist rather than a formal philosopher: This is what I understand about the shining in and from the material world.
Thank you for the great article! Nietzsche, unfortunately for him, seemed to be reflecting on many of his own issues and experiences when writing some of these extremely insightful "sayings". We need to listen and learn from Nietzsche (and Denning) before living the pain, disappointment, setbacks, or bedevilment in our own lives. Will we -- or do we have to learn by experience? So, writing this largely for myself: 1. Can we hear the music and dance in our own lives before we run out of time -- or do we just read this comment as criticism of the "hard-of-hearing"? 2. Can we embrace the chaos as a blessing and make the most of it as an opportunity to create or serve? 3. Can we make sure we don't become monsters when fighting those we consider to be monsters? 4. Can we embrace setbacks as character-building blessings? 5. Will we use our writing (including Tweets) and what we say to make the world a better place? 6. Will we learn why we are upset (the quote didn't just apply to lying) vs just suppressing or reacting? 7. Will we be open to considering ideas that don't fit our narrative or politics -- or have we become the dogmatic closed-minded person we have always criticised?
Thank you for your openness. A work that you may wish to consider placing a copy in a safe place where you can revisit it in four or five decades. See how much change in your philosophy.
Reaching the tenth decade of life is my remarkable achievement and a testament to wisdom, resilience, and courage. With such experience comes an opportunity to reflect on the choices I make and the lessons learned in life. For me, my personal philosophy is set in my forties, when I was able to look back on decades of experience and develop a deeper understanding of what matters most to me. It is during this time that principles such as courage, temperance, justice, prudence, faithfulness and humility become important guides in my journey through life.
My professional military culture is steeped in a set of shared traits and values, many of which have been carried down from generation to generation. These traits include the sux listed above. Although my progress has been slow in some areas, these core values remain deeply ingrained in me and the modern military culture and continue to shape the behavior of its members even today.
Life philosophies are an integral part of our lives; they provide us with the rules and guidance to make decisions. After a thorough review of my life philosophy, I have written this report on what I believe makes up my personal life philosophy. It is important to note that a life philosophy should not change from year to year, as the principles remain constant. With this in mind, I would like to invite you to consider my report and reflect on your own personal life philosophy.
Closing, all honor to you. You are going to spend the rest of your life in a place I cannot go. My wish is for your peace and serenity while on the path.
Memento Morai is a timeless phrase that serves as a reminder to cherish the moments while they last. It's a powerful reminder to live life to the fullest and appreciate the beauty of life. It also encourages us to seek peace and serenity amidst all the chaos in our lives. To live our life philosophy.
Cool article. Good ideas, good quotes. I think the monster inside you might have wrote 3 and 4 haha
Seems like not enough of a nuanced take on situations that deserve more context.
I'm curious, what led to your mental break from "reality"? Was it not the rat race and the all encompassing dread that accompanies feeling like you're doing all this work for no reason? That you're working so hard to go nowhere fast?
I definitely think its something to be said about the power of resilience and feel you were speaking in a way to motivate people to take action, which is key,but came off of as dismissive of real world issues though 🤔 there's ways to be realistic in a sustainable manner true
Mental break from reality was caused by deep mental illness. The rat race just felt empty. Every meeting was just revenue revenue revenue .... as if that's the meaning of life. It's like being surrounded by faceless puppets.
I too had a mental break from the emptiness of the rat race, mine happened in college though. I truly felt purposeless chasing unfulfilling dreams given to me by others.... I'm glad I had my break as well, it made me create a new, more empowering reality where I have much more control over my perspective. And perspective is really ultimately. Everything does begin with the mind.
Which is intimately connected with the body but that's a whole other conversation Lolol neuroscience and such
I'll never get the time back... Yet the quality of my time now is exponentially better. I'm thankful for what I've been through. Otherwise I wouldn't have the wisdom I have today. Sometimes I throw a pity party and take on a victim's mentality, usually not for long though. How can we say something shouldn't have happened, when it did? Accept life rather than fight against it, and you can save a lot of energy. And use that energy to take care of yourself and take action.
Loved it, Tim. The quote about the abyss is really thought provoking. And I 100% agree on the honesty bit - when people lie, they lose my trust immediately.
The abyss staring back, into you...reminded me of the "abyss" (vastness) of consciousness, which is being described by physicists in Quantum mechanics. Intent can manipulate the quantum field, it's when the field starts "staring" back at you, talking to you, presenting signs, etc. that it gets pretty interesting.
I know "whatever doesn't kill you makes your stronger" is a cliché, but I'm glad you included it because it is so true. Snowflakes abound these days, even in warm climates, and their minimal contribution is just to wet the ground. I always know when I'm on the verge of some kind of growth when I'm "having a problem with my mental health." Identifying that discomfort generally signals a breakthrough for me has been super helpful. Thanks for this article - I enjoyed the insights. Oh, and congrats on the baby! We are right there sufferjoying along with you.
Unfortunately, Nietzsche also had some truly destructive and nonsensical ideas which would have driven anyone to utter despair - and they did, and eventually he killed himself as a result of them. I am therefore very wary around what he says, even if there are a few things that seem helpful.
That said, he seems to have been a humane person, but driven mad - which appears to have arisen out of his attempted response to some truly horrible religious ideas foisted on him when young.
The point of his work is to make you think, not agree with him.
Yes, we should be doing more of that. It was just meant as a word of caution to consider, as you think about them, where ideas may lead. (Having said that, I think truth should be pursued regardless of the consequences.)
I don't love caution. As the famous quote goes: "Those whoa re offended should be offended more often."
Amen :)
Noted. Had not heard that one before, but it sure hit home today. Thank you!
No probs.
A helpful philosopher is one you can understand in depth, adopt what you find useful, refute what you disagree with, and when you read their work, derive value from wearing their mask to face the world for a brief try.
What a poetic way to say it. Thanks Steve.
What I hear from Nietszche is - "Don't resent, don't despise others. It lessens you." I forgive him for sometimes saying things not so well.
Me too Steve.
Nietzsche did not kill himself. He did not die from his ideas. If you’re going to say his ideas are destructive you should mention which ones you disagree with.
Would love to hear more about your critique of his “nonsensical ideas”. 😁
Oftentimes Nietzsche is called the first modern psychologist: I have a long academic background in mental health to tell he was (I learned this from Carl G. Jung, though). Like Freud in and from psychoanalysis, Nietzsche was a harsh critic of western culture and civilization because he saw its fundamental flaw: Nihilism. Currently, nihilism, as the denial of the material world, is at worst: Two out of ten people worldwide (mostly in the West) believe that politically defeating Russia is worth a nuclear war. There is no reasoning with them because nihilism is intrinsic to the West's philosophy and religion, Christianity, which Nietzsche particularly detested. Thus it is just not true that Nietzsche was a nihilist. Personally, there are two fundamental concepts to Nietzsche's philosophy I love, one of which I understand very well, this is his "transvaluation of values." The other, however, I can only basically grasp: That things, the phenomenological world, shine on the surface. I do understand that the latter Nietzsche conceived against Plato's idealism, which however Kant himself had partially opposed by deconstructing Materialism without destroying it. Perhaps Nietzsche did not want to go as deep as Kant precisely because he saw himself as a modern psychologist rather than a formal philosopher: This is what I understand about the shining in and from the material world.
Thank you for the great article! Nietzsche, unfortunately for him, seemed to be reflecting on many of his own issues and experiences when writing some of these extremely insightful "sayings". We need to listen and learn from Nietzsche (and Denning) before living the pain, disappointment, setbacks, or bedevilment in our own lives. Will we -- or do we have to learn by experience? So, writing this largely for myself: 1. Can we hear the music and dance in our own lives before we run out of time -- or do we just read this comment as criticism of the "hard-of-hearing"? 2. Can we embrace the chaos as a blessing and make the most of it as an opportunity to create or serve? 3. Can we make sure we don't become monsters when fighting those we consider to be monsters? 4. Can we embrace setbacks as character-building blessings? 5. Will we use our writing (including Tweets) and what we say to make the world a better place? 6. Will we learn why we are upset (the quote didn't just apply to lying) vs just suppressing or reacting? 7. Will we be open to considering ideas that don't fit our narrative or politics -- or have we become the dogmatic closed-minded person we have always criticised?
Great summary Lee. Thank you.
Say no more...truths abound in this piece by TD...
Appreciate it Adrian.
Thank you for your openness. A work that you may wish to consider placing a copy in a safe place where you can revisit it in four or five decades. See how much change in your philosophy.
Joel, my philosophies currently change every 12 months. The rate of change is enormous.
Reaching the tenth decade of life is my remarkable achievement and a testament to wisdom, resilience, and courage. With such experience comes an opportunity to reflect on the choices I make and the lessons learned in life. For me, my personal philosophy is set in my forties, when I was able to look back on decades of experience and develop a deeper understanding of what matters most to me. It is during this time that principles such as courage, temperance, justice, prudence, faithfulness and humility become important guides in my journey through life.
My professional military culture is steeped in a set of shared traits and values, many of which have been carried down from generation to generation. These traits include the sux listed above. Although my progress has been slow in some areas, these core values remain deeply ingrained in me and the modern military culture and continue to shape the behavior of its members even today.
Life philosophies are an integral part of our lives; they provide us with the rules and guidance to make decisions. After a thorough review of my life philosophy, I have written this report on what I believe makes up my personal life philosophy. It is important to note that a life philosophy should not change from year to year, as the principles remain constant. With this in mind, I would like to invite you to consider my report and reflect on your own personal life philosophy.
Closing, all honor to you. You are going to spend the rest of your life in a place I cannot go. My wish is for your peace and serenity while on the path.
Memento Morai is a timeless phrase that serves as a reminder to cherish the moments while they last. It's a powerful reminder to live life to the fullest and appreciate the beauty of life. It also encourages us to seek peace and serenity amidst all the chaos in our lives. To live our life philosophy.
Deep thoughts. Thank you Joel.
Cool article. Good ideas, good quotes. I think the monster inside you might have wrote 3 and 4 haha
Seems like not enough of a nuanced take on situations that deserve more context.
I'm curious, what led to your mental break from "reality"? Was it not the rat race and the all encompassing dread that accompanies feeling like you're doing all this work for no reason? That you're working so hard to go nowhere fast?
I definitely think its something to be said about the power of resilience and feel you were speaking in a way to motivate people to take action, which is key,but came off of as dismissive of real world issues though 🤔 there's ways to be realistic in a sustainable manner true
Mental break from reality was caused by deep mental illness. The rat race just felt empty. Every meeting was just revenue revenue revenue .... as if that's the meaning of life. It's like being surrounded by faceless puppets.
I too had a mental break from the emptiness of the rat race, mine happened in college though. I truly felt purposeless chasing unfulfilling dreams given to me by others.... I'm glad I had my break as well, it made me create a new, more empowering reality where I have much more control over my perspective. And perspective is really ultimately. Everything does begin with the mind.
Which is intimately connected with the body but that's a whole other conversation Lolol neuroscience and such
Heal the mind and you'll earn back your time Kage.
I'll never get the time back... Yet the quality of my time now is exponentially better. I'm thankful for what I've been through. Otherwise I wouldn't have the wisdom I have today. Sometimes I throw a pity party and take on a victim's mentality, usually not for long though. How can we say something shouldn't have happened, when it did? Accept life rather than fight against it, and you can save a lot of energy. And use that energy to take care of yourself and take action.
https://aninjusticemag.com/superior-inferiors-the-illusion-of-authority-e9faf959202c?sk=c305df2e3ba60a5125282088f572fd79
I love Kage that you don't remain with a victim mentality. That's a huge deal in my mind.
Yep. That’s my life, too. Revenue is hard work.
Sure is Tim.
Thought provoking
Thank you. I like the notion of the abyss staring back, into you….
Me too Wendy. The abyss is such a great idea.
Your right. Nietzsche shuffles the pack of cards we are dealt with and helps us reimagine the world and our place in it.
He sure does Geoffrey.
Loved it, Tim. The quote about the abyss is really thought provoking. And I 100% agree on the honesty bit - when people lie, they lose my trust immediately.
Gotta love that quote Arundhati.
Enjoyable e-mail.
Thanks Karen.
Very quantum
What does that mean Wendy?
The abyss staring back, into you...reminded me of the "abyss" (vastness) of consciousness, which is being described by physicists in Quantum mechanics. Intent can manipulate the quantum field, it's when the field starts "staring" back at you, talking to you, presenting signs, etc. that it gets pretty interesting.
This is so cool Wendy. Thanks for the clarification.
"Some of my flow states can last 16 hours straight."
Can I learn this power?
You sure can Justin. It's something I teach in my academy.
Great Post... Also, Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius, is more than a sum of its sound bites, but here are some of my faves…
The best revenge is not to be like that
The shadow of decay casts a peculiar beauty
There are few things as vile as someone who boasts about his humility
Your own anger and grief often do you more harm than whatever caused them
Don’t become the slave to other people’s ignorance
Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself
Some people hate you… that’s their problem
It doesn’t pay to be angry at the world… the world doesn’t give a shit
a few others are listed here:
https://brain2mind.substack.com/p/weekend-reading-marcus-aurelius-meditations
Many good learnings can be found in Meditations.
Quote #4. There is a saying in the Caribbean..."Wha' don' kill mus' fatten" Pretty close I think.
Love that saying Lee!
I know "whatever doesn't kill you makes your stronger" is a cliché, but I'm glad you included it because it is so true. Snowflakes abound these days, even in warm climates, and their minimal contribution is just to wet the ground. I always know when I'm on the verge of some kind of growth when I'm "having a problem with my mental health." Identifying that discomfort generally signals a breakthrough for me has been super helpful. Thanks for this article - I enjoyed the insights. Oh, and congrats on the baby! We are right there sufferjoying along with you.
Thanks for the congrats Kyla. Daughter is doing well :)
Love the quotes. Featuring this article in the 'Usable' section of my daily newsletter, which goes out later today.
Appreciate that Andrew. Thank you.
"Some of my flow states can last 16 hours straight." I mean wow!
We deserve a blog post or newsletter on how you do this, could we someday Tim?
Okay, I'll write about it for you. Stay tuned.