[lbo-talk] Nietzsche

[wrobert at uci.edu]

>
>
>
> wrobert at uci.edu
>> CB: N. uses that basic philosophical truth to serve the ruling class.
>> Evil
>> genius is more pernicious than evil dumbness, because it is likely evil
>> genius will help evil more than evil dumbness. N. is worse than others
>> because he is so smart, and puts his smarts to the service of the ruling
>> classes.
>
> What you've never answered is how Nietzsche's thought is in service of the
> 'ruling class'.  The man had no tolerence for the nationalist triumphalism
> of his day, nor any nostalgia for feudalism.
>
> ^^^^^^
> CB: I'm way over posted, but instead of entirely leaving this hanging,
> I'll
> say something briefly, and work on it more over the weekend, and then I
> won't post for a couple of days, for the quota limitation.
>
> I know N's fans hate it, but it can't be ignored that the main actually (
> and formerly actually) existent social-political "movement" that claimed
> N.
> was a real ruling class movement in the early 20th century in Germany.
> This
> is a big fact. It can't be denied away by the fact that the N's. didn't
> follow N on every detail.  "Superman" is a kind of striking commonality.
> Then N's attitude is pro-master/ anti-slave.  It's also in the service of
> today's ruling class to the extent that it contradicts Marxism on the
> issue
> of CLASS ( fuck you to all the redbaiters on this; you are just as
> arrogant
> about your beliefs  and philosophical positions as Marxists are about
> theirs; it's a big lie that Marxists are ( or I am) more intellectually
> arrogant than anti-Marxists, Liberals, anarchists, whatever. I mean really
> fuck you everytime you say this type of thing. )

While I generally have enjoyed this conversation with you Charles, I think
that this accusation of redbaiting is bullshit.  Folks have called you on
being a bit dogmatic, but this does not constitute redbaiting.  This
tactic of claiming critics are engaged in redbaiting seems to be the last
refuge of the Marxist-Leninist....


> Is it your position that Nietzsche doesn't champion the masters over the
> slaves ?  Is it that he wants everybody to be a superman ? Maybe you mean
> I
> misinterpret those.  He seems to be nostalgic for imperial Rome , among
> other eras. Are you saying that I read him inaccurately, in that regard ?
> I
> guess it seems obvious to me that N. champions masters over slaves, but
> maybe you read that differently.
>
Ultimately my problem is you are turning these into transhistorical
categories.  N. would no doubt argue that those who dominated his society
were operating under slave morality rather than the ethics he proposed.  I
doubt that N. was nostalgic for Rome or for any other golden past. 
Coincidentally, I find N.'s dislike for counter-systemic movements
problematic and generally prefer Spinoza's analysis of society, but that
doesn't mean he supports the bourgeoisie.

                            robert woood