We live in a world shaped by barbarians
Yet we champion the cause of moderation, courtesy, gentleness, empathy and all the quotidian virtues
That's the irony of most civilizations
Yet we champion the cause of moderation, courtesy, gentleness, empathy and all the quotidian virtues
That's the irony of most civilizations
I have not read Nietzsche first hand. But I suppose this is his primary insight
The Examined life, theories of good and evil, the quest for justice and truth - all the concerns that animated the Socratic philosophers and also several religions - seem to be aimed at the modal man
The Examined life, theories of good and evil, the quest for justice and truth - all the concerns that animated the Socratic philosophers and also several religions - seem to be aimed at the modal man
Or to echo the line by a rebellious character in Woody Allen's classic "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
"For those who want morality, there's morality. Nothing is written down in stone"
"For those who want morality, there's morality. Nothing is written down in stone"
Nietzsche's ideas no doubt were taken forward by both the Left and Right..
Be it Nazis, Marxists, post-modernists, feminists, racists
They may all hate each other. But they are all basically inspired by Nietzsche's central thought - "Might is right"
Be it Nazis, Marxists, post-modernists, feminists, racists
They may all hate each other. But they are all basically inspired by Nietzsche's central thought - "Might is right"
In other words, Nietzsche champions the instinctive life. As opposed to the Socratic championing of the Examined life.
When I look at Indian religions, "might" is always viewed with suspicion.
At least in the theistic traditions like Vaishnavism
At least in the theistic traditions like Vaishnavism
The triumph of the likes of विभीषण, प्रह्लाद over their more powerful relatives suggests the power of theism
The omniscient and benevolent power exists to protect the quotidian virtues and stamp out अहङ्कार in all its manifestations
The omniscient and benevolent power exists to protect the quotidian virtues and stamp out अहङ्कार in all its manifestations
I don't think it is even possible to make a case for quotidian virtues in the absence of theism
Some might argue the case for Far Eastern societies, which lack strong theistic cultures
But barbarism has triumphed in those cultures - Communism in China, Fascism in Japan
Some might argue the case for Far Eastern societies, which lack strong theistic cultures
But barbarism has triumphed in those cultures - Communism in China, Fascism in Japan
Atheists like to cite the "Golden rule" as the great regulator of conduct in the absence of theism
But Golden rule in its origins is religious. An irreligious restatement of Golden rule is something like -
"Do whatever you like, as long as you can get away with it"
But Golden rule in its origins is religious. An irreligious restatement of Golden rule is something like -
"Do whatever you like, as long as you can get away with it"
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