Sunday, February 03, 2008

I attended an amazing lecture on Neitzsche (of God is dead fame) yesterday which completely reshaped whatever I had perceived of him before. I haven't read much for him apart from Thus spake Zarathustra, which I didn't understand. Still, I tended to associate a nihilism to him which he is in fact innocent of. Note to myself, read up more on him and especially his criticism of "the philistine culture" and the "onrush of mediocrity". What else can we call our current age if not the age of mediocrity.

Posted by Maysaloon at 12:34 pm

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6 comments:

Tamara Al-Om said...

Neitzsche is one of the most important and radical philosophers. I would definately recommend reading "On the Use and Abuse of History for Life", especially if you are interested in History as you appear to be.
I used his notion of history in one of my essays which you can view here, http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/history-the-middle-east-in-seach-of-an-alternative/

5:25 pm
Maysaloon said...

Thanks Tamara,
I just had a look at your blog - very interesting....

5:59 pm
Tamara Al-Om said...

Hi Wassim,

I don't necessarily see the situation in the Arab world as bleak, instead I would say that it is in need of a great deal more thought. And it is for that reason that I beleive Nietzsche's work as well as other philosophers (especially Heidegger and Foucault) are so important.

I know, whole heartedly, how strong Arabs are, and that is my fustration, that I see so much potential, but the political situation, internationally and nationally, makes it almost impossible for people to move forward.

And yes I would agree with you that the power that the US and Israel possess is greatly diminishing. Unfortunately, I do not see that as any less dangerous. Maybe even more so, considering their desperation to remain powerful and dominant.

11:06 pm
Tamara Al-Om said...

Oh and I also wanted to mention that 'On the Use and Abuse of History for Life', is just a short paper of his, in his book 'Untimely Meditations'. Also there is a book coming out this year, which is a collection of essays on Neitzsche's Zarathustra that a friend of mine has just published with Continuum press. I would definately recommend it, if you are interested in understanding that particular book more.

11:12 pm
Maysaloon said...

Wow thanks - I'll be checking them out. So much to read, so little time. I wonder what's the point if we never get the opportunity to do?

:)

2:47 pm
ASDFGHJK said...

not having to contribute much to your post as i don't understand him either... but still the guy is called Nietzsche not Neitzsche...

10:36 pm

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