The Irony of Nietzsche
Nietzsche strongly condemns religion. How Ironic then is it, that religion does a better job at creating uberman then any other ideological system. Religion breeds confident people, and it takes confident people to create value. In this day and age, anyone can tear down value, thats the promise of democracy and science, but to create value? That requires the audacity of a tyrant and tyrants don’t have the luxury of insecurity. Insecurity is for the scientist and technocrat. Confidence is the domain of the tyrant, the uberman.
The uberman is the priest? Surely this can’t be so!
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Since historical anecdotes are apparently now the currency of argument in your mind, do you want me to point out examples of ruthless and cunning tyrants who were atheists, or of inept and timid leaders who were religious?
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
I don’t know man, have you read any Ayn Rand? There are real Objectivist movements out there, with rich people who probably fit your description as well as any priest. Of course, I think both group are probably pretty evil (re: bad for society, not personally malevolent) but who knows.
It may be true that you need cultish devotion to SOMETHING to get an Ubermensch, though- some of the traits describing the ubermensch are also traits defining a sociopath. Possibly the correct next evolution of mankind, but, certainly not at all normal for humanity as it stands now.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 am
“Possibly the correct next evolution of mankind”
I don’t see this as justified, not in the context of the definition Steve suggested. Between different groups, those with more sophisticated science and more merit-based or diffuse power structures are likely to gain a competitive advantage. The group of humans that prospers in the long term is the society that values these things, not the one that values a cult of personality. Within this subset of groups, the “ubermensch” may wind up being marginalized by more polite society and have less reproductive success.