In one of the most misunderstood philosophies ever recorded, Friedrich Nietzsche proposed that human kind had indeed killed God. This of course shook people to their core, and caused quite a stir. He would be for ever hated by Christian theologians and many cultural heroes of that time period. Many would also mistakenly attribute the rise of Nazism in Germany to be a direct result of this philosophy, which was in reality the exact opposite.
Nietzsche’s concept that God was dead was actually a warning. We had basically killed the concept with our egotism, science and pursuit of progress. The warning was that the absence of God would have serious and devastating impacts on human morality. He certainly was right, in less than 50 years post writing of this there would be two world wars fought between Christian nations. Millions would die and some of the greatest atrocities would occur in the history of humans. Maybe we should of actually listened to what he was saying then vilifying him.
He argued that humans needed to live for life today, to make the best out of the time they had. He wrote of a new sort of ethos, a pathway to becoming a better person, what we might call superhuman. Not the ability to leap over buildings, withstand bullets and lift entire train cars; but the ability to withstand the greatest and most vile of dragons. The culture and values of corrupt society.
These special superhumans would learn to master their emotions, take joy in their daily existence and love the act of creation. They would stand up against the culture and values that were so permanent a part of society and slay the evil of the world by living truly independent, a true individual, a person who exists for themselves. In reality a true creation of God.
The answer? Well, Nietzsche had many pieces of advice. He had three major phases that a individual spirit must go through to become superhuman. The first step is to become symbolically like a camel. A strong person that is willing to keep the moral and cultural values of society. To live with honor, to be strong. To follow the dragon. You follow and obey as much as possible. You live up to you ideals. You avoid simple indulgence, you differentiate yourself by keeping commitments, following through with them and doing what great role models have taught you.
The second phase was like that of a lion. To roar loudly, NO! Decide to be yourself, to live by your own values instead of what society has imposed. To put your own will on the world. The third phase was symbolically like a child. A passionate cry of Yes! Live life to its fullest, creating beautiful things. This is the person that comes full circle, being both against and for society. A true individual, one capability of contributing real value. This is the person that experiences the true free form of life.
Too bad. I probably will never get there. I am still trying to master the camel thing!
Guy Reams
