The Superman and the Misunderstanding of the Message - Book Report/Review Example

13 September Thus Spoke Zarathustra: the Superman and the Misunderstanding of the Message Introduction Thus Spoke Zarathustra is, probably, one of the most complex and most ambiguous writings in contemporary philosophy. Written in the best traditions of modernism and post-modernity, Friedrich Nietzsche offers his own vision of the world and its future. The prologue lays the foundation for the development of the major philosophic arguments and prepares readers to understand the underlying meanings of Nietzsche’s text. Part 3 of Nietzsche’s prologue is devoted to the discussion of the concept of Superman (in some translations, Overman). In this passage, Nietzsche positions the Superman as the most effective solution to the nihilism which, according to him, is the definitive feature of his reality and the world around him. In part 3 of Zarathustra’s prologue, Nietzsche refers to the analogy with Darwin’s philosophy of evolution, to prove that the process of transition to the Superman is in no way a product of natural selection; rather, it is something an individual can achieve only through a profound self-transformation and sacrifice. Part 3 of Prologue in Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra offers an insight into the concept of the Superman and the ways individuals can achieve the highest state of spiritual being. Actually, the Superman is the highest state of each person’s being and the only way individuals can combat nihilism which dominates their society: “The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The Superman shall be the meaning of the earth!” (Nietzsche). Those, who are unable to grasp the meaning of the Superman and are not willing to lead themselves to the spiritual self-awareness and revival, are bound to spend their lives surrounded by disguise and blasphemy. The Superman is something that can help people to look beyond their bodily urges and concerns. The Superman can help the society to look contemptuously on their bodies from the viewpoint of a supreme thing (Nietzsche). The Superman will work to reduce the poverty and pollution of the society’s spirit and soul and justify the happiness of its existence. It is interesting to see, that in his explanation of the Superman concept, Nietzsche (or Zarathustra) refers to the concept of evolution and Darwin’s theory. Zarathustra uses Darwin’s concept of evolution, to illustrate the point of the Superman and to show the best way toward the ultimate point of happiness and self-fulfillment. Zarathustra criticizes the society’s belief in evolution and points out that achieving the highest state of consciousness is spirit is never possible through natural selection; rather, it is only through self-transformation that men can become the Supermen: “Ye have made your way from the worm to man, and much within you is still worm. Once were ye apes, and even yet man is more of an ape than any of the apes” (Nietzsche). According to Zarathustra, the society exists in the atmosphere of complete nihilism and is being rules by the outdated Platonic and Christian beliefs in happiness, virtue, and goodness. These virtues seem to have deprived the society of its ability to self-transform and evolve – both spiritually and morally. Zarathustra considers God to be the greatest deception of all, because the value of the self is not in God or in the man’s being able to transform oneself. As such, self-transformation in Zarathustra’s words is impossible without trying to look at conventional religious and social values with great contempt. They require criticism, objectivity, and the willingness to transform: “Once the soul looked contemptuously on the body, and then that contempt was the supreme thing: - the soul wished the body meager, ghastly, and famished. Thus it thought to escape from the body and the earth” (Nietzsche). Unfortunately, in this part of the prologue, Zarathustra does not show the exact ways individuals could choose to transform oneself; nor does he succeed in persuading the public that self-transformation is the critical precondition for the society’s prolonged success and productive existence. Actually, that Zarathustra fails to deliver his message to the public is one of the most important philosophic implications in this part of the Prologue. Throughout his speech, Zarathustra seems to be fighting to find the best language and words – the ones that would fit the purpose of his message and, simultaneously, make this message comprehensive to his audience: “We have now heard enough of the rope-dancer; it is time now for us to see him! – And all the people laughed at Zarathustra” (Nietzsche). This failure to deliver the message to the public serves the two purposes: first, it reveals the general reluctance and inability of the audience to look deeper into the hidden meaning of Zarathustra’s words; second, this failure also leaves Zarathustra so confused, frustrated, and lost that he has but to reconsider the ways in which his message was interpreted by the people. Obviously, the townspeople and Zarathustra hold different view and opinions regarding his own speech: while Zarathustra uses his speech and words to produce a serious effect on the audience and to change their beliefs about the reality, the townspeople consider Zarathustra’s speech as nothing but a statement of facts, which they cannot comprehend. The rope-dancer is an excellent metaphor, which reflects the dramatic gap between the fact and the abstract thinking: Zarathustra uses the rope-dancer as an allegory, and the audience believes the rope-dancer to be a figure that is (or must be) actually present during the performance. This failure to deliver the message creates numerous complexities but, nevertheless, does not stop Zarathustra in his striving to explain the meaning of the Superman and the significance of self-transformation. Ultimately, it is due to self-transformation that individuals can combat nihilism that dominates their society. Conclusion According to Zarathustra, the time has come for the society to reconsider its attitudes toward conventional Christian and Platonic values. By using Darwin’s theory of evolution, Zarathustra tries to prove that the process of transition to the state of the Superman is in no way a product of natural selection; rather, it is the result of the profound self-transformation and sacrifice. Zarathustra claims that self-transformation implies the ability of the soul to look at the body with great contempt. Self-transformation is associated with the process of sacrificing traditional values and beliefs for the sake of escape from the body and the earth. The failure to deliver Zarathustra’s message to the audience reveals the gap between abstract thinking and facts. It requires that Zarathustra reconsiders the language he uses to persuade his audience and explain the value of self-transformation to the townspeople. Works Cited Nietzsche, F. “Thus Spoke Zarathustra: Prologue, Part 3.” Transl. by Thomas Common. 1981. Web. 13 September 2010. Read More